Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in the Rapid City Metro

BLS metro-level wage data places Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay in Rapid City, SD at a median of $68,100 per year ($32.74/hr), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared with the national median of $76,780, the metro estimate is 11% below. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. Approximately 50 zoologists and wildlife biologists are employed across the Rapid City MSA in SOC 19-1023.

The Rapid City pay distribution spans from $51,830 at the 10th percentile to $81,920 at the 90th, a 1.6× observed spread. Differences in specialization, employer, sector, location, credentials, schedule, and experience may all contribute, but OEWS does not isolate their effects. The 25th percentile sits at $60,720 and the 75th at $78,830, so half of Rapid City-based zoologists and wildlife biologists earn within that middle band.

Metro figures use establishment work location, not worker residence. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Rapid City, SD covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. OEWS includes straight-time pay, tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer health and retirement benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, signing bonuses, and other nonproduction bonuses. The same occupation's national profile, statewide SD estimate, and peer-metro rows provide distinct geographic comparisons. A published median is a benchmark, not a prediction or ceiling for one worker.