Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Rapid City, SD
Plant and System Operators, All Other in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median of $62,190 a year ($29.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,960 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 8% higher than the South Dakota statewide median of $57,430. There are 0.46 plant and system operators, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for plant and system operators, all other in Rapid City, SD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| 25th percentile | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Median | $62,190 | $29.90 |
| 75th percentile | $80,960 | $38.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,960 | $38.92 |
| Average (mean) | $62,250 | $29.93 |
Half of plant and system operators, all other earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,182.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,591.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,391.92 |
| Weekly | $1,195.96 |
| Hourly | $29.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,190 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Dakota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $60,650 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for plant and system operators, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $120,660 |
| Washington | $88,730 |
| Minnesota | $88,290 |
| Maryland | $81,890 |
| Montana | $81,340 |
| Nevada | $80,000 |
| California | $78,020 |
| Illinois | $77,780 |
| Iowa | $75,800 |
| New York | $74,700 |
See Plant and System Operators, All Other pay in every state or the South Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rapid City, SD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $30,880 | $14.85 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,690 | $24.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,290 | $33.79 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,850 | $22.53 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $40,760 | $19.60 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,970 | $18.74 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.22 |
| Machinist | $47,840 | $23.00 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8099. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a plant and system operators, all other make in Rapid City, SD?
The median salary for plant and system operators, all other in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $62,190 a year, or $29.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid plant and system operators, all other make in Rapid City, SD?
The top 10% of plant and system operators, all other in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn at least $80,960 a year. The top 25% earn $80,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for plant and system operators, all other in Rapid City, SD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,140 a year, and a quarter of plant and system operators, all other earn $44,910 or less.
How many plant and system operators, all other work in Rapid City, SD?
About 30 plant and system operators, all other are employed in the Rapid City, SD metro area, not counting the self-employed.