PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Occupational or Physical Therapist | Lymphedema
Avera Health · Yankton, SD
$71k–$123k/ year
Physical Therapist jobs in Rapid City, SD
Pay for physical therapists in the Rapid City area centers on $44.37 per hour, or about $92,290 a year. The lower quarter earns under $37.69 and the upper quarter over $50.74. That ranks 325th of 375 U.S. metro areas for physical therapist pay, and 199th of 338 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Rapid City. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Rapid City.
- $44.37median pay per hour, Rapid City
- $38–$51typical range per hour
- 150physical therapists employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Physical Therapist pay in Rapid City, SD
The metro median is 3% above the South Dakota statewide median of $42.90 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 150 physical therapists employed in the Rapid City metro area, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.29).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $36.30 | $75,500 | 25% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $37.69 | $78,400 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Median | $44.37 | $92,290 | 9% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $50.74 | $105,540 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $51.30 | $106,700 | 6% above U.S. median |
How Rapid City ranks
- 325th of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 199th of 338 after adjusting for local prices
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123), 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 $44.37 median hour buys what $49.76 buys at the national price level, 2% 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.
Get the Rapid City Physical Therapist pay report
Named employers near Rapid City, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Rapid City paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,597
- Per year: $79,866
- Per month: $6,656
- 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.
Travel assignment per diem in Rapid City
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $122 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,372 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,836 |
Travel physical therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Open Physical Therapist roles in South Dakota
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Rapid City as they open.
Per diemPosted 21 days ago
Physical Therapist Acute | PRN
Avera Health · Sioux Falls, SD
$39.50–$59.25/ hour
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
40+ more Physical Therapist roles for you in South Dakota
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Physical Therapist (PT) | Inpatient/Long Term Care
Avera Health · Aberdeen, SD
$39.50–$59.25/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Physical Therapist (PT)
Avera Health · Gregory, SD
$37.25–$56.25/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Physical Therapist (PT)
Avera Health · Parkston, SD
$35.50–$56.25/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Physical Therapist (PT)
Avera Health · Chamberlain, SD
$35.50–$53.75/ hour
Hospitals in Rapid City
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Rapid City, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physical therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Health Rapid City Hospital Rapid City, SD | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Black Hills Surgical Hospital Llc Rapid City, SD | Acute care | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Same Day Surgery Center Llc Rapid City, SD | Acute care | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Physical Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | 177 mi | $46.39/hr | 58,823 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 218 mi | $48.62/hr | 65,704 |
| Bismarck, ND | 224 mi | $39.00/hr | 77,772 |
| Billings, MT | 287 mi | $47.96/hr | 121,483 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 325 mi | $40.50/hr | 209,289 |
| Sioux City, IA | 360 mi | $41.81/hr | 86,875 |
Physical Therapist jobs in South Dakota · Physical Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in South Dakota
DPT degree. 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 physical therapists make in Rapid City, SD?
Physical Therapists in the Rapid City metro area have a median pay of $44.37 per hour, about $92,290 a year. The middle half earn between $37.69 and $50.74 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Rapid City a good place for physical therapists once cost of living is counted?
Rapid City ranks 199th of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 325th of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do physical therapists work in Rapid City?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Rapid City, led by Monument Health Rapid City Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a South Dakota license to work in Rapid City as a physical therapist?
DPT degree. 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.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Rapid City?
The federal per diem benchmark in Rapid City is $122 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,372 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place physical therapists 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.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Rapid City pay physical therapists? 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 hospitals
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
40+ Physical Therapist 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 PT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your South Dakota list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Avera HealthAberdeen, SD · 8 postings$46.25/ hr$31–$59
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$73.08/ hr$63–$83
- AmedisysPlymouth, MA · 3 postings$69.71/ hr$60–$85
- NewYork-PresbyterianNew York · 4 postings$68.41/ hr$56–$81
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your South Dakota list
2What they are offering now
Low$34Median$46.25High$59
8 PT postings with published pay in South Dakota, 2 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 8 PT roles
- Occupational or Physical Therapist | LymphedemaPermanent$71k–$123k/ year
- Physical Therapist Acute | PRNPer diem$39.50–$59.25/ hour
+ 6 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.