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Best Fire Science Schools Near Rapid City, SD (2026)
Rapid City, South Dakota is home to about 76,836 residents. Median household income is $65,712 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In South Dakota, the top-earning fire science-related role is First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers at a median $72,420 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Fire Science Schools to Rapid City
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer fire science programs near Rapid City, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Rapid City city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Dakota schools on the South Dakota fire science page.
Fire Science Wages Near Rapid City
Rapid City is part of the Rapid City, SD metro area (BLS area code 39660). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to South Dakota statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighter | $48,160 | Rapid City, SD | $53,991 |
| First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $72,420 | SD statewide | $81,188 |
| Fire Inspector and Investigator | N/A | SD statewide | – |
| Emergency Management Director | $67,180 | SD statewide | $75,314 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Rapid City at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,836 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $65,712 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 36.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 89.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the highest-paying fire science roles near Rapid City?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying fire science-related roles near Rapid City are: First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers ($72,420), Emergency Management Director ($67,180), Firefighter ($48,160). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with South Dakota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Is Rapid City an affordable place to study fire science?
Rapid City’s median household income of $65,712 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rapid City while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Dakota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Fire Science Programs
- Is a Fire Science degree worth it?
- Main Fire Science degree guide
- Online Fire Science programs in South Dakota
- Fire Science programs by state
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Data verified: August 31, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.