Salary guide, May 2025
Welding Engineer pay in Rapid City, SD
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Rapid City, SD was $94,180 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $81,370 and $106,920.
The Rapid City, SD median is $9,930 below the national median of $104,110, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
What should you know about rapid City, SD?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $70,590 | $81,370 | $94,180 | $106,920 | $136,640 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33.94 | $39.12 | $45.28 | $51.40 | $65.69 |
BLS estimated 140 workers employed in this occupation in Rapid City, SD. Location quotient: 1.02.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $73,990 | $84,130 | $104,110 | $132,590 | $164,340 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.57 | $40.45 | $50.05 | $63.75 | $79.01 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Welding Engineer median is $94,180. The all-occupations median in Rapid City, SD is $46,270. Ratio: 2.04 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.02 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $79,070 | $90,460 | $104,210 |
| May 2025 | $81,370 | $94,180 | $106,920 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers, Rapid City, SD. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | $101,010 | $88,530 to $139,250 |
| Cheyenne, WY | $122,500 | $104,990 to $139,620 |
All roles in Rapid City, SD · National page · Welding Engineer ranked across metros