Sustainability Manager Salary in Rapid City, SD — 2026
Sustainability Manager salary data for Rapid City, SD — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The estimated median Sustainability Manager salary in Rapid City, SD is $85,500 per year ($7,125/month, $41/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark by the local cost of living index of 90, which is 10% below the national average.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Rapid City's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Sustainability Manager Take-Home Pay in Rapid City
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $85,500 |
| Federal Tax | -$9,980 |
| State Tax (0.0% eff.) | -$0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$6,541 |
| Annual Take-Home | $68,979 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $5,748 |
Living Cost Comparison
Sustainability Manager Requirements
Key Skills
Rapid City Job Market Overview
Rapid City, South Dakota has a population of 77,503 and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. The top industries are Tourism, Healthcare, Military. The local job growth rate is 1.5%, and the average commute time is 16minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Sustainability Manager in Rapid City
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Sustainability Manager in Rapid City, SD, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $52,200 | $25/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $68,850 | $33/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $85,500 | $41/hr | Mid-career, 3-6 years |
| 75th | $130,500 | $63/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $160,200 | $77/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Rapid City's Tourism sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 22.0% salary growth for Sustainability Managers over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Rapid City estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Sustainability Manager can expect a 14.0% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 7 years in Rapid City. Negotiation, certifications (LEED AP, ISSP Credential), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Rapid City vs National Average
The national median Sustainability Manager salary is $95,000 (Salario estimate). In Rapid City, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $85,500 is 10.0% below the national figure. This reflects Rapid City's cost of living index of 90 (lower than the national average of 100).
For Sustainability Managers, this means: rent typically consumes 17.4% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Rapid City costs about 3.9× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Rapid City.
Industry Context: Tourism in Rapid City
Rapid City's economy is anchored by Tourism, Healthcare, Military, with 77,503 residents and an unemployment rate of 2.2% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Sustainability Managers can differ by sector, so compare Tourism employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 28.0% growth outlook for Sustainability Manager roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Sustainability Manager salaries in Rapid City, SD:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available. For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Rapid City index of 90 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), SD 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 0.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Rapid City QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Rapid City figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Sustainability Manager salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Tourism vs others in Rapid City), specific skill set (ESG Reporting, Carbon Accounting, GRI Standards), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Sustainability Manager salary in Rapid City, SD?
How much does a Sustainability Manager take home in Rapid City after taxes?
Is Rapid City a good city for Sustainability Managers?
What skills are needed for a Sustainability Manager in Rapid City?
How does Sustainability Manager salary in Rapid City compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Sustainability Manager salary in Rapid City, SD?
Salario estimates the median Sustainability Manager salary in Rapid City, SD at $85,500 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Sustainability Manager benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 90, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $52,200, and the senior estimate is $130,500 or more.
How much does a Sustainability Manager take home in Rapid City after taxes?
A Sustainability Manager earning the median salary of $85,500 in Rapid City, SD takes home approximately $68,979 per year ($5,748/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 19.3%.
Is Rapid City a good city for Sustainability Managers?
Rapid City, SD has a cost of living index of 90 (below national average). Sustainability Managers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 2.2% and top industries include Tourism, Healthcare, Military.
What skills are needed for a Sustainability Manager in Rapid City?
Key skills for Sustainability Managers include ESG Reporting, Carbon Accounting, GRI Standards, Stakeholder Engagement, Data Analysis. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's or Master's. Valuable certifications include LEED AP, ISSP Credential.
How does Sustainability Manager salary in Rapid City compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Sustainability Manager is $95,000. In Rapid City, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $85,500, which is 10.0% lower than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.