PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Rapid City, SD
$28.00–$31.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Rapid City, SD
The median dental assistant pay in the Rapid City area is $22.60 per hour ($47,010 a year), with the typical range running from $19.32 to $27.75. That ranks 140th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 48th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Rapid City. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Rapid City.
- $22.60median pay per hour, Rapid City
- $19–$28typical range per hour
- 300dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Rapid City
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Get my free pay reportDental Assistant pay in Rapid City, SD
The metro median is 1% below the South Dakota statewide median of $22.92 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 300 dental assistants employed in the Rapid City metro area, 4.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.73).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.27 | $38,000 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $19.32 | $40,190 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Median | $22.60 | $47,010 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $27.75 | $57,720 | 22% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $30.03 | $62,460 | 32% above U.S. median |
How Rapid City ranks
- 140th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 48th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Rapid City
- Overall prices in Rapid City run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.2, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 27% below the U.S. average (index 72.6).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $22.60 median hour buys what $25.35 buys at the national price level, 11% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Rapid City paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$814
- Per year: $40,680
- Per month: $3,390
- South Dakota has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Rapid City metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Pennington County
HRSA lists 3 active dental health shortage designations that include Pennington County (3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 on a 0 to 26 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for dentists, hygienists and dental assistants is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Dental Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | 177 mi | $22.66/hr | 58,823 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 218 mi | $21.47/hr | 65,704 |
| Bismarck, ND | 224 mi | $28.60/hr | 77,772 |
| Billings, MT | 287 mi | $22.26/hr | 121,483 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 325 mi | $23.18/hr | 209,289 |
| Sioux City, IA | 360 mi | $22.64/hr | 86,875 |
Dental Assistant jobs in South Dakota · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in South Dakota
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what South Dakota requires for your role with the South Dakota licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
South Dakota does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.
Other healthcare roles in Rapid City
Rapid City city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Rapid City, SD?
Dental Assistants in the Rapid City metro area have a median pay of $22.60 per hour, about $47,010 a year. The middle half earn between $19.32 and $27.75 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Rapid City a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Rapid City ranks 48th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 140th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Rapid City?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Rapid City. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Rapid City.
Do I need a South Dakota license to work in Rapid City as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what South Dakota requires for your role with the South Dakota licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Rapid City in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 3 active dental health shortage designations that include Pennington County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Does Valorem Health place dental assistants in Rapid City?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Rapid City and across South Dakota. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Rapid City.
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What do employers near Rapid City pay dental assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
30+ Dental Assistant roles in South Dakota, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dental Assistant pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your South Dakota list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Aspen DentalSt. Louis Park, MN · 5 postings$37.50/ hr$22–$42
- Smile BrandsFaribault, MN · 3 postings$28.50/ hr$25–$35
- Denver HealthDenver, CO · 8 postings$27.51/ hr$22–$32
- Aspen DentalBismarck, ND · 3 postings$27.50/ hr$25–$35
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your South Dakota list
2What they are offering now
Low$17Median$22.00High$31
976 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 464 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$28.00–$31.00/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.