NAICS 44-45
Retail Trade in Rapid City, SD
Metro Market Score 70.8 (Difficult), ranked #343 of 378 metros. 689 establishments, 9,815 jobs.
Metro Market Assessment
Metro Market Score 70.8
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult
Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.
Rising Wages
Market conditions for retail trade in Rapid City are tougher than average. The 70.8 market score reflects a combination of moderate wages, slowing employment, and an already crowded field. Rank: #343 of 378 metros.
Industry Concentration
86.2
LQ: 1.34
Rank #326 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
54.0
$38,078 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 30.4
Employment growth index
Rank #264 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
74.6
YoY wage change index
689 Retail Trade Firms in Rapid City
689
Establishments
-0.4% YoY
9,815
Total Employment
-1.4% YoY
$38,078
Average Annual Wage
+2.5% YoY
1.34
Location Quotient
Above national avg
Rapid City vs South Dakota Statewide
How this metro's retail trade market compares to South Dakota overall. The state ranks #7/51 for entry risk.
| Measure | Rapid City | SD Statewide |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.8 Difficult | 38.9 Moderate |
| Score Type | Metro Market Score | Entry Risk Score |
| Rank | #343 of 378 metros | #7 of 51 states |
Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.
Other Industries in Rapid City
Retail Trade in Other South Dakota Metros
Data Sources
- Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Rapid City, SD MSA area.
Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.