Optometrist Salary in Rapid City, SD: $132,000 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Rapid City, SD earns a median $132,000/year (≈ $63.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Rapid City's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.8), that paycheck buys what $142,241 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.2% above the South Dakota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Rapid City, South Dakota, optometrists can expect to earn a median annual salary of $132,000 in 2026, a figure slightly lower than the national median of $140,612. The local salary range extends from $76,560 at the 10th percentile to $196,312 at the 90th percentile, reflecting diverse practice environments within the city. Optometrists in Rapid City have multiple employment avenues, including private practice ownership, associate positions, and retail chain roles, each of which can significantly influence overall compensation. The local estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional cost variations, provide a solid foundation for understanding the optometrist salary in Rapid City and the professional choices practitioners face in this evolving market.
About the Rapid City Market
Salary estimated from South Dakota average ($125,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $76,560 | $36.81 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $104,605 | $50.30 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $132,000 | $63.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $160,716 | $77.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $196,312 | $94.38 |
Median Salary Position
6.12% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Rapid City
In Rapid City, SD, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $119,752 (2026 est.). At $132,000, the local median is 6.12% below the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Rapid City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Rapid City Optometrist Pay Compares
Rapid City median: $132,000/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Rapid City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Average | $130,435 | +1.20% more |
| National Average | $140,612 | -6.12% less |
Optometrists in Rapid City, SD earn a median of $132,000 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.12% lower than the national median of $140,612 and 1.20% above the South Dakota state average of $130,435.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Rapid City has a cost of living 7.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Rapid City, SD has a cost-of-living index of 92.8 (below the national average of 100). A optometrist earning $132,000 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $142,241 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.76% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$108,191
2025 BLS Actual
$128,205
2026 Current Est.
$132,000
2019–2027 Growth
+25.6%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Rapid City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $108,191 | Actual |
| 2020 | $110,819 | Actual |
| 2021 | $116,687 | Actual |
| 2022 | $117,898 | Actual |
| 2023 | $93,480 | Actual |
| 2024 | $92,860 | Actual |
| 2025 | $128,205 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $132,000 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $135,907 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Rapid City metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 18.5% from $108,191 (2019) to $128,205 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $135,907 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,716 (25.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Rapid City metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.96% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $76,560 – $104,605 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $104,605 – $132,000 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $132,000 – $160,716 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $160,716 – $196,312 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Rapid City
With 16 optometrists currently employed in Rapid City, the local job market shows moderate stability. The cost of living index of 92.8 indicates that residents benefit from a generally lower cost of living compared to the national average, enhancing purchasing power for local professionals. Among the main employers in the area, private optometry practices and ophthalmology clinics tend to offer the highest salaries, especially those utilizing the OD/MD model. The disparity in compensation can be attributed to factors such as equity in practice ownership, specialty training (e.g., residency in ocular disease), and the practices' operational models. To maximize optometrist pay in Rapid City, practitioners should consider opportunities in well-established private practices, remain informed about residency training benefits, and explore collaborations with local ophthalmologists to drive patient referrals for shared revenue.
More salary data for Rapid City, SD:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Aisha Patel, OD
Career Analyst
Aisha Patel has 10 years of experience in optometry. She specializes in pediatric vision care. Aisha works in a private practice setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $128,205 for optometristsin the Rapid City metropolitan area. A 2.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Rapid City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.96%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for optometrists (SOC 29-1041).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, OD, a licensed optometrist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov