Assess risk of genetic disorders and counsel patients and families on testing and options. Median salary in Rapid City: $79K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Rapid City, South Dakota. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Genetic Counselors in Rapid City earn approximately 12% lower than the US national median for this role — a $11,000 discount on annual base salary. Rapid City's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 88 (US avg = 100).
South Dakota has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $7,347 per year at this salary level compared to a California Genetic Counselor on the same gross pay. A Rapid City Genetic Counselor would need to earn $87,100 in California to net the same take-home.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $79K by 2030.
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The median Genetic Counselor salary in Rapid City, SD is $79,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Rapid City–SD metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Genetic Counselors in Rapid City with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $63,000 and $79,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $79,000 to $97,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $97,000 to $119,000 or more.
Rapid City has a cost of living index of 88 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 12% further in Rapid City than the national average. Crucially, South Dakota has no state income tax — giving Rapid City-based Genetic Counselors an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).
Master's in Genetic Counseling; ABGC certification. 35% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.