PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Respiratory Therapy Aide
Avera Health · Sioux Falls, SD
$18.00–$23.50/ hour
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Rapid City, SD
The median respiratory therapist pay in South Dakota is $31.12 per hour ($64,720 a year), with the typical range running from $25.70 to $34.97. That is 20% below the U.S. median of $38.68 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Rapid City. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Rapid City.
- $31.12median pay per hour, South Dakota
- $26–$35typical range per hour
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Rapid City, SD
Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 380 respiratory therapists employed in South Dakota.
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $22.44 | $46,680 | 42% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $25.70 | $53,460 | 34% below U.S. median |
| Median | $31.12 | $64,720 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $34.97 | $72,740 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $38.38 | $79,830 | 1% below U.S. median |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), 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).
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 Respiratory 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$1,120
- Per year: $56,016
- Per month: $4,668
- South Dakota has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for South Dakota. 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 respiratory 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 Respiratory Therapist roles in South Dakota
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Rapid City as they open.
Per diemPosted 30+ days ago
Respiratory Therapist | PRN
Avera Health · Pierre, SD
$29.25–$44.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
30+ more Respiratory 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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Per diemPosted 30+ days ago
Respiratory Therapist | PRN
Avera Health · Aberdeen, SD
$29.25–$44.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Respiratory Therapist
Avera Health · Pierre, SD
$29.25–$44.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Respiratory Therapist
Avera Health · Aberdeen, SD
$28.00–$42.00/ 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 respiratory 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.
Respiratory Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | 177 mi | $31.12/hr | 58,823 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 218 mi | $36.49/hr | 65,704 |
| Bismarck, ND | 224 mi | $37.21/hr | 77,772 |
| Billings, MT | 287 mi | $38.97/hr | 121,483 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 325 mi | $29.43/hr | 209,289 |
| Sioux City, IA | 360 mi | $29.55/hr | 86,875 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in South Dakota · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in South Dakota
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. 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 respiratory therapists make in Rapid City, SD?
Respiratory Therapists in South Dakota have a median pay of $31.12 per hour, about $64,720 a year. The middle half earn between $25.70 and $34.97 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Where do respiratory 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 respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. 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 respiratory 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 respiratory 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
30+ Respiratory 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 RT 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 · 5 postings$36.62/ hr$18–$44
- CommonSpirit HealthSACRAMENTO, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
- MultiCareTacoma, WA · 18 postings$54.16/ hr$29–$68
- Fairview Health ServicesGrand Rapids, MN · 7 postings$53.34/ hr$36–$63
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your South Dakota list
2What they are offering now
Low$23Median$36.62High$44
5 RT postings with published pay in South Dakota, 1 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 5 RT roles
- Respiratory Therapy AidePermanent$18.00–$23.50/ hour
- Respiratory Therapist | PRNPer diem$29.25–$44.00/ hour
+ 3 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.