Pay data
Average Salary in North Dakota (2026)
The average salary in North Dakota is $64,050 a year and the median is $52,480, 3% above the US median (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices that median is worth $58,990: 18th of the 50 states and DC by median wage, 4th once local prices are taken into account.
- Average (mean) salary
- $64,050US $69,770
- Median salary
- $52,480US $50,980
- Median hourly wage
- $25.23BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 89.0US = 100 · BEA 2024
Calculator
Where does your salary rank in North Dakota?
About the 74th percentile
You earn more than about 74% of workers in North Dakota.
At North Dakota prices, $75,000 buys what $84,310 buys at the national average, about the 76th percentile nationally.
Interpolated between the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile wages BLS publishes for all occupations (OEWS, May 2025). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed. Price comparison uses BEA Regional Price Parities.
The spread
What North Dakota workers earn
| Percentile | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,330 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $38,600 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $52,480 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $75,810 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $103,160 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $64,050 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in North Dakota
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states (US = 100). North Dakota sits at 89.0 overall, with housing at 71.4. To live the way $100,000 pays for at national-average prices, you would need about $88,960 here. Compare any two states or metros.
US = 100
- All items11% below US89
- Housing (rents)29% below US71.4
- Goods4% below US95.7
- Utilities26% below US73.7
- Other services9% below US91.2
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 89 |
| Housing (rents) | 71.4 |
| Goods | 95.7 |
| Utilities | 73.7 |
| Other services | 91.2 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
By field
Average salary in North Dakota by occupation group
| Occupation group | Median | vs US | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management | $103,440 | -18% | 26,920 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $85,170 | -14% | 6,030 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $81,970 | -25% | 6,920 |
| Legal | $81,110 | -21% | 2,170 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $79,920 | -8% | 30,480 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $76,870 | -7% | 22,100 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $71,750 | -13% | 4,630 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $61,990 | +4% | 22,760 |
| Construction and Extraction | $61,180 | +3% | 34,720 |
| Community and Social Service | $60,640 | +4% | 6,360 |
| Protective Service | $58,350 | +17% | 7,990 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $55,140 | -9% | 25,050 |
| Production | $50,750 | +8% | 23,910 |
| Transportation and Material Moving | $49,190 | +11% | 42,960 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | $49,080 | -22% | 4,940 |
| Office and Administrative Support | $48,050 | +1% | 45,080 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | $46,450 | +27% | 980 |
| Healthcare Support | $44,240 | +15% | 18,000 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | $37,950 | +1% | 13,120 |
| Sales | $37,840 | -2% | 36,780 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | $34,040 | -3% | 35,690 |
| Personal Care and Service | $33,430 | -8% | 11,840 |
The jobs
The jobs behind North Dakota's pay
The most common jobs set the median; the best-paid set the top; the most over-represented jobs show what the state's economy specialises in (location quotient: the state's share of jobs in an occupation over the national share).
Most common jobs
By employment
- 1Truck Driver11,870
- 2Fast Food and Counter Worker11,470
- 3Registered Nurse11,340
- 4Retail Salesperson11,320
- 5General and Operations Manager11,150
- 6Laborer and Freight, Stock, and Material Mover, Hand9,990
- 7Cashier9,510
- 8Office Clerk, General8,440
- 9Nursing Assistant6,840
- 10Janitor and Cleaner, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners6,720
Highest-paying jobs
Median, 500+ workers
- 1Allergist and Immunologist$454,550
- 2IT Manager$149,130
- 3Pharmacist$142,040
- 4Financial Manager$135,890
- 5Physician Assistant$133,450
- 6Nurse Practitioner$130,070
- 7Regulatory Affairs Manager$126,440
- 8Sales Manager$119,990
- 9Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary$107,940
- 10Lawyer$106,880
Most over-represented
Location quotient, 1,000+ workers
- 1Wellhead Pumper31.0x
- 2Service Unit Operator, Oil and Gas25.2x
- 3Oil and Gas Roustabout19.8x
- 4Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator3.7x
- 5Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Except Engines3.5x
- 6Highway Maintenance Worker2.9x
- 7Childcare Worker2.8x
- 8Welder2.3x
- 9Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist2.2x
- 10Teller2.2x
Cities
Average salary by city in North Dakota
| Metro area | Median | Mean | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $52,560 | $64,630 | 91.0 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $51,050 | $64,380 | 90.9 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $49,760 | $61,980 | 86.7 |
| Minot, ND | $48,940 | $60,600 | 87.0 |
Compare
States with similar pay
Method
About these numbers
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all occupations in North Dakota. Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Wages are straight-time pay before tax, including commissions and tips, excluding overtime premiums, bonuses and benefits.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in North Dakota: FAQ
What is the average salary in North Dakota?
The average (mean) annual wage in North Dakota is $64,050 and the median is $52,480, 3% above the US median of $50,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 429,430 wage and salary workers in all occupations.
What is the average hourly wage in North Dakota?
$30.79 an hour on average and $25.23 at the median (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What is a good salary in North Dakota?
Above $52,480 out-earns half of North Dakota workers; the top 25% start at $75,810 and the top 10% at $103,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Prices in North Dakota run 11% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so $100,000 here buys about what $112,410 buys nationally.
Is North Dakota expensive to live in?
BEA puts overall prices in North Dakota at 89.0 against a US average of 100 (2024). Housing is 71.4, goods 95.7, utilities 73.7 and other services 91.2. To match a $100,000 national-average lifestyle you would need about $88,960 here.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Dakota?
Allergist and Immunologist ($454,550), IT Manager ($149,130), Pharmacist ($142,040), Financial Manager ($135,890), Physician Assistant ($133,450) have the highest median wages among occupations with at least 500 workers in North Dakota (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What are the most common jobs in North Dakota?
Truck Driver (11,870), Fast Food and Counter Worker (11,470), Registered Nurse (11,340), Retail Salesperson (11,320), General and Operations Manager (11,150) employ the most people (BLS OEWS, May 2025).