How Much Does a Chief Engineer Make in Rapid City, SD ? (2026 Salary Guide)

Chief Engineer Salary in Rapid City, SD

As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Rapid City, SD is $263,586, equivalent to $127 per hour, $5,069 weekly, or $21,966 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Rapid City, SD vary widely, spanning from $217,200 to $294,789. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($239,306) and 75th percentile ($279,919), while top earners (90th percentile) make $294,789 per year. This $40,613 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Rapid City Chief Engineer often earn 2.1% lower than national averages. However, Rapid City currently ranks 756 statewide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

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Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $217,200 Rapid City, SD April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $239,306 Rapid City, SD April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $263,586 Rapid City, SD April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $279,919 Rapid City, SD April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $294,789 Rapid City, SD April 01, 2026
25% $239,306 10% $217,200 90% $294,789 75% $279,919 $263,586 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Chief Engineer in Rapid City, SD

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    VP of Engineering


    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Chief Engineer


    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Chief Engineering Officer


    Master's Degree or MBA

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Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Chief Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
239306
279919
263586

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
310491
432165
363140
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Chief Engineer in Rapid City, SD. The base salary for Chief Engineer ranges from $239,306 to $279,919 with the average base salary of $263,586. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $310,491 to $432,165 with the average total cash compensation of $363,140.

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239306
279919

 

About Rapid City, South Dakota    Rapid City is located at 44°04′34″N 103°13′42″W / 44.076188°N 103.228299°W / 44.076188; -103.228299. The downtown elevation of Rapid City is 3,202 ....More

Rapid City, South Dakota  area prices were up 0.8% from a year ago

Chief Engineer Salary in popular cities: Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Brookings

Recently searched related titles: Vice President Engineering, Vp Engineering, Senior Vice President Engineering

Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role

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