Technology Rapid City, SD Pop. 74,703

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Rapid City, South Dakota

The median site reliability engineer salary in Rapid City, SD is $123,250 per year, which is 15% below the national median and 2.4% above the South Dakota state average.

City Median
$123,250
vs State Avg
+$2,900
vs National
$-21,750
Cost of Living
90%

Site Reliability Engineer Pay in Rapid City: What to Expect (2026)

Rapid City offers a median site reliability engineer salary of $123,250, which is $2,900 above the South Dakota state average of $120,350. Compared to the national median of $145,000, Rapid City pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Rapid City's cost of living is 90% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for site reliability engineers in Rapid City spans from $74,800 at the 10th percentile to $187,000 at the 90th percentile — a $112,200 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $78,200, while senior site reliability engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $178,500. Rapid City is a smaller market (pop. 74,703), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Rapid City by Experience

In Rapid City, an entry-level site reliability engineer earns around $78,200, while experienced professionals earn up to $178,500 per year. The local cost of living index is 90% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$78,200
$-13,800 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$125,800
$-22,200 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$178,500
$-31,500 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Rapid City, SD

Percentile Rapid City
10th Percentile $74,800
25th Percentile $97,750
Median (50th) $123,250
75th Percentile $157,250
90th Percentile $187,000

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Other South Dakota Cities

Sioux Falls, SD
$126,150
Pop. 192,517
Brookings, SD
$117,450
Pop. 24,194
Aberdeen, SD
$114,550
Pop. 28,324
Mitchell, SD
$111,650
Pop. 15,660

How to Become a Site Reliability Engineer in Rapid City

Education

Most site reliability engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Rapid City and the surrounding South Dakota area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

LinuxKubernetesTerraformPythonMonitoring ToolsIncident Response

Job Outlook

Nationally, site reliability engineer employment is projected to grow 22% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Rapid City may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Site Reliability Engineer Jobs in Rapid City

Browse open site reliability engineer positions in Rapid City, SD:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Rapid City

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make in Rapid City, SD? ▼
The median site reliability engineer salary in Rapid City, South Dakota is $123,250 per year, which is 15% below the national median of $145,000. Salaries range from $74,800 (10th percentile) to $187,000 (90th percentile).
How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make per hour in Rapid City? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $123,250, a site reliability engineer in Rapid City earns approximately $59 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Rapid City compare to the South Dakota state average for site reliability engineer pay? ▼
Rapid City's median site reliability engineer salary of $123,250 is 2.4% above the South Dakota state average of $120,350. The local cost of living index is 90% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Rapid City, SD? ▼
Rapid City has a cost of living index of 90% compared to the national average. This means a site reliability engineer salary of $123,250 in Rapid City has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a site reliability engineer in Rapid City? ▼
Most site reliability engineer positions in Rapid City require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Linux, Kubernetes, Terraform, Python. The job market is projected to grow 22% nationally over the next decade.