Police Officer Hourly Pay in Rapid City, SD: $32.52 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Rapid City, SD runs $32.52 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $67,628 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Rapid City's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.2, 11% below national), each hour of work buys what $36.47 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $40,579 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Rapid City, the police officer hourly pay is projected to be $32.52 for 2026, which represents a significant gap compared to the national median hourly rate of $37.76. This means that officers within the city earn about 13.90% less than the national average. A part-time officer working three days a week, amounting to approximately 24 hours, can expect to earn around $29,000 annually, while full-time officers have more consistent paychecks but often have demanding schedules that include evening and weekend shifts across various settings—like patrol vehicles, police stations, and courtrooms. Entry-level officers earn as low as $24.77 per hour, while seasoned professionals can make up to $39.28 per hour, depending on their experience and specializations, including roles in SWAT or K-9 units. This data is sourced from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates based on 2025 data, projected to 2026.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $24.77 | $198.12 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.39 | $227.14 |
| Median (P50) | $32.52 | $260.12 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35.48 | $283.87 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $39.28 | $314.21 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Rapid City
Based on $32.52/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $32.52/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Rapid City, SD can expect to earn approximately $67,632 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $39,019. With a cost-of-living index of 89.16 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Rapid City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Rapid City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,300.62 | $5,636 | $67,632 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $780.37 | $3,382 | $40,579 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $520.25 | $2,254 | $27,053 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Rapid City) | $32.52 |
| Firefighter (National Avg) | $28.13 |
| Detective / Criminal Investigator (National Avg) | $45.86 |
| Correctional Officer (National Avg) | $25.24 |
| Security Guard (National Avg) | $17.32 |
Police Officers in Rapid City, SD earn a median of $67,628 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.90% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 7.20% below the South Dakota state average of $72,875.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $32.52/hr = $40,579/year (purchasing power: $45,513).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $67,632/year (purchasing power: $75,855).
CoL index: 89.16 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.24/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$31.55/hr
2026 Current Est.
$32.52/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+44.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Rapid City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.24/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.94/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.50/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.25/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.76/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.47/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $31.55/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $32.52/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $33.51/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Rapid City grew 35.8% from $23.24/hr (2019) to $31.55/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $33.51/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem police officers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
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 3.06% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Police Officer in Rapid City
When considering part-time work as a police officer in Rapid City, the earning potential varies significantly from that of full-time roles. Annual compensation for a 24-hour workweek does not reflect the extensive overtime often required by this profession. Officers regularly receive overtime pay at 1.5 times their base rate, especially during court appearances or special assignments, which can inflate total earnings by an additional 20-50%. Some choose per diem or agency roles, where hourly rates can range from $35 to $75 for off-duty assignments. Different employers offer varying hourly rates, with municipal police and county sheriff offices providing positions that often include health benefits, while federal agencies tend to offer higher pay without such benefits. For individuals negotiating hourly pay in Rapid City, understanding the comprehensive benefits package tied to lower hourly rates can be pivotal when considering long-term career trajectories, including the pursuit of a pension multiplier that increases with longevity in service.
More salary data for Rapid City, SD:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in law enforcement. They specialize in community policing strategies. Jordan works with a municipal police department.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for police officers in Rapid City. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.06%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for police officers (SOC 33-3051).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice, a licensed police officer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov