Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Rapid City, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

Rapid City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Rapid City median rent
$1,443/mo
Plumber salary (South Dakota)
$59,048/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,921, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,476/mo in rent. Rapid City's median rent of $1,443 leaves roughly $33/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 50.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a plumber salary

Plumber pay sits comfortably above the US median household income and covers affordable rent in most US metros. At the national-average plumber salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,678 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local plumber-pay estimates so renters can see where the math works.

Cheaper rent nearby

These South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Rapid City, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Box Elder, SD
$1,441/mo (29.3% of income)
Brookings, SD
$1,434/mo (29.1% of income)
Harrisburg, SD
$1,431/mo (29.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rapid City

View full rent data for Rapid City, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Rapid City, SD?

Median rent in Rapid City is $1,443 a month. A typical plumber in South Dakota earns about $59,048 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Rapid City?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in South Dakota (~$59,048/yr) supports up to $1,476 a month in rent. Rapid City's current median rent is $1,443/mo, which leaves a $33/mo buffer.

How many hours does a plumber work to cover rent in Rapid City?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a plumber in South Dakota works roughly 50.8 hours a month to cover Rapid City's median rent of $1,443.

Where is rent cheaper than Rapid City for a plumber?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Box Elder ($1,441/mo), Brookings ($1,434/mo), Harrisburg ($1,431/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived South Dakota state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Rapid City, SD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.