Physician Assistant jobs in Rapid City, SD
Physician Assistants in the Rapid City area earn a median of $58.73 per hour, about $122,160 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $52.58 and $69.98. That ranks 256th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 136th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Rapid City. The free report below lists employers near Rapid City and what they pay.
- $58.73median pay per hour, Rapid City
- $53–$70typical range per hour
- 130physician assistants employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Physician Assistant pay in Rapid City, SD
The metro median is 5% below the South Dakota statewide median of $61.60 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 130 physician assistants employed in the Rapid City metro area, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.78).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $45.10 | $93,810 | 30% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $52.58 | $109,370 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Median | $58.73 | $122,160 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $69.98 | $145,560 | 9% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $72.42 | $150,630 | 13% above U.S. median |
How Rapid City ranks
- 256th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 136th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071), 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 $58.73 median hour buys what $65.87 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Physician Assistant 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
- Per year: $105,714
- Per month: $8,809
- 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 physician assistant 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).
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 physician assistants.
| 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.
Primary care shortage areas in Pennington County
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Pennington County (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 18 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians 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.
Physician Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | 177 mi | $59.03/hr | 58,823 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 218 mi | $63.37/hr | 65,704 |
| Bismarck, ND | 224 mi | $60.09/hr | 77,772 |
| Billings, MT | 287 mi | $65.69/hr | 121,483 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 325 mi | $61.60/hr | 209,289 |
| Sioux City, IA | 360 mi | $60.82/hr | 86,875 |
Physician Assistant jobs in South Dakota · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in South Dakota
Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. 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 physician assistants make in Rapid City, SD?
Physician Assistants in the Rapid City metro area have a median pay of $58.73 per hour, about $122,160 a year. The middle half earn between $52.58 and $69.98 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Rapid City a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?
Rapid City ranks 136th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 256th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do physician assistants 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 physician assistant?
Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. 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 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Pennington County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
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 physician 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.
What do employers near Rapid City pay physician 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 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.
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30+ Physician 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.
Your PA pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your South Dakota list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 4 postings$104.30/ hr$94–$115
- Valley Children's HealthcareMadera, CA · 3 postings$103.69/ hr$75–$123
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 4 postings$100.70/ hr$86–$108
- Sharp HealthCareLa Mesa, CA · 3 postings$92.12/ hr$80–$104
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your South Dakota list
2What they are offering now
426 PA postings with published pay in the US, 356 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open PA roles
Open PA roles near Rapid City, SD, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.