State salary profile · North Dakota

North Dakota Salaries

Occupation-by-occupation wages, highest- and lowest-paying roles, and metro detail for North Dakota, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$173,672
Top 50 avg
551
Occupations
6
Metro areas
19,720
Workers (top tier)

North Dakota occupations report a top-tier average wage of $173,672.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the most recent release covers 551 reported occupations in North Dakota, each with a national percentile band and metro-level detail. The highest-paying reported occupation, Surgeons, All Other, earns $604,890, versus $34,430 for Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other at the bottom of the range. Detail is available for 6 metro areas within the state.

North Dakota, the picture in one line

North Dakota ranks #29 of 54 states and territories by employment-weighted average wage, led by Surgeons, All Other at $604,890.

#29
of 54 states by typical pay
$604,890
top-paying: Surgeons, All Other
46th
percentile among all states

Rank reflects employment-weighted pay across the full occupation mix, not any single role; see the full breakdown below.

· Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

The North Dakota labor market shows up in BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data across 551 reported occupations; the top- and bottom-paying tiers shown on this page (75 occupations) cover roughly 19,720 workers in that sample. The May 2025 OEWS release captures base pay, mean pay, and percentile bands for each SOC code that has enough state-level employment to report without confidentiality suppression. Averaging the medians of the top 50 highest-paying occupations gives $173,672 per year, the upper-tier benchmark, NOT a state-wide median (BLS does not publish that aggregate; specialty roles skew this number significantly higher than what a typical worker earns).

At the top of the ranking, Surgeons, All Other pays a North Dakota median of $604,890, the highest-paying reported occupation in the state. The number-two spot goes to Radiologists at $553,140, followed by Physicians, All Other at $454,550. At the bottom of the reported range, Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other pays $34,430 - the 17.6× spread between top and bottom is characteristic of U.S. state labor markets, where specialized professional roles and entry-level service work coexist within the same regional economy. BLS reports wage data for 6 metropolitan statistical areas inside North Dakota, letting you drill below state averages into city-by-city variation.

State-level wages reflect three compounding forces: local industry mix (a state with heavy finance, tech, or oil-and-gas concentration shows higher medians than one dominated by retail and hospitality), cost of living (expensive states pay nominally more to attract talent), and employer competition (areas with few large employers for a given specialty pay below average regardless of state prestige). Before treating any median on this page as a personal benchmark, drill into the specific metro within North Dakota where you work, pair it with rent and cost-of-living indices to see real purchasing power, and remember OEWS figures exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime. Every occupation row links to the full occupation profile so you can see the 10th-to-90th percentile spread and compare North Dakota to the national median for that specific role. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

Top-Tier Sample

75

occupations shown below

Avg. Median Salary

$173,672

top 50 occupations

Top Salary

$604,890

Surgeons, All Other

Where North Dakota ranks on pay

Employment-weighted average wage vs. all 54 states & territories

$60,286 Bottom 46% higher than 46% of 54 states & territories

$0–$5,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 3 states & territories (6%). Below this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 7 states & territories (13%). Below this entry. $55,000–$60,000: 13 states & territories (24%). Below this entry. $60,000–$65,000: 12 states & territories (22%). This entry sits in this band. $65,000–$70,000: 7 states & territories (13%). Above this entry. $70,000–$75,000: 6 states & territories (11%). Above this entry. $75,000–$80,000: 3 states & territories (6%). Above this entry. $80,000–$85,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $85,000–$90,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $90,000–$95,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $95,000–$100,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $100,000–$105,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Above this entry. This state $0 $105,000 every state & territory, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more states & territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

North Dakota ranks #29 of 54 by employment-weighted average wage ($60,286), a measure of typical local pay across the whole occupation mix rather than any single role.

Highest-paying occupations in North Dakota

Median annual wage by occupation, top 15 reported roles

median / yr
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS As of May 2025

BLS publishes wage data for 551 distinct occupations in North Dakota. The table below shows the top 50 by median annual wage. Drill into the full top-100 ranking or the fastest-growing list for deeper coverage.

Highest Paying Jobs in North Dakota

View all 100 →
# Occupation Median Salary
1 Surgeons, All Other $604,890
2 Radiologists $553,140
3 Physicians, All Other $454,550
4 Obstetricians and Gynecologists $414,060
5 Emergency Medicine Physicians $392,890
6 General Internal Medicine Physicians $338,400
7 Family Medicine Physicians $280,100
8 Nurse Anesthetists $244,240
9 Pediatricians, General $234,950
10 Dentists, General $220,660
11 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $171,100
12 Chief Executives $164,560
13 Computer and Information Systems Managers $149,130
14 Physical Scientists, All Other $147,650
15 Architectural and Engineering Managers $147,400
16 Pharmacists $142,040
17 Human Resources Managers $139,050
18 Financial Managers $135,890
19 Physician Assistants $133,450
20 Commercial Pilots $133,010
21 Petroleum Engineers $132,120
22 Optometrists $132,110
23 Natural Sciences Managers $131,370
24 Purchasing Managers $130,110
25 Nurse Practitioners $130,070
26 Managers, All Other $126,440
27 Marketing Managers $125,580
28 Power Plant Operators $122,160
29 Fundraising Managers $121,750
30 Sales Managers $119,990
31 Audiologists $118,750
32 Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $116,130
33 Industrial Production Managers $116,050
34 Chemical Engineers $115,400
35 Public Relations Managers $114,110
36 Training and Development Managers $114,020
37 Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary $111,020
38 Electrical Engineers $110,810
39 Business Teachers, Postsecondary $110,050
40 Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary $109,710
41 Database Architects $109,430
42 Computer Network Architects $108,990
43 Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary $108,130
44 Air Traffic Controllers $107,990
45 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $107,940
46 Information Security Analysts $107,540
47 Lawyers $106,880
48 Transportation Inspectors $106,330
49 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers $105,870
50 Software Developers $105,600

Lowest Paying Jobs in North Dakota

Occupation Median Salary
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other $23,410
Telemarketers $23,440
Gambling Dealers $27,370
Bailiffs $27,560
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers $27,840
Amusement and Recreation Attendants $28,070
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $28,430
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $28,660
Bartenders $29,040
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other $29,100
Dishwashers $29,980
Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,080
Cooks, Fast Food $30,220
Childcare Workers $30,290
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners $30,640
Waiters and Waitresses $30,890
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $31,010
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse $31,080
Packers and Packagers, Hand $31,440
Cashiers $31,460
Demonstrators and Product Promoters $32,180
Manicurists and Pedicurists $33,430
Animal Caretakers $34,040
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other $34,230
Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other $34,430

Fastest Growing Jobs

View all 50 →

See the fastest growing occupations nationally and how many people work in each one in North Dakota. Based on BLS employment projections 2024–2034.

Metro Areas in North Dakota

Bismarck, ND East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area Fargo, ND-MN Grand Forks, ND-MN Minot, ND West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area

Salary Guides

Best States for Salaries

Which states pay the most and why

Salary vs. Cost of Living

Compare purchasing power across metros

Fastest Growing Occupations

Where the job growth is heading

Related State Pages

Drill into the highest-paying and fastest-growing jobs in North Dakota, or jump back to the national rankings.

Highest Paying in North Dakota

Top 100 by median salary

Fastest Growing in North Dakota

Projected 2024–2034 growth

National Highest Paying

All occupations ranked

Surgeons, All Other

Top-paying role nationally

Radiologists

National occupation profile

All 50 States

Browse every state page
Compare Surgeons, All Other side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median salary across the top 50 occupations in North Dakota? ▼
Averaging the median salaries of the top 50 highest-paying occupations in North Dakota gives $173,672/year (BLS OEWS May 2025). This is NOT the state-wide median, it's the mean of the top tier only. The full 551 occupations with reported wage data span a much wider range; see the table below for the complete picture.
What is the highest paying job in North Dakota? ▼
The highest paying occupation in North Dakota is Surgeons, All Other with a median salary of $604,890/year according to BLS data. The second highest is Radiologists at $553,140/year.
What jobs pay the least in North Dakota? ▼
The lowest paying occupation in North Dakota is Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other with a median salary of $34,430/year. Entry-level and service occupations generally have the lowest wages in the state.
How many metro areas are in North Dakota? ▼
BLS reports wage data for 6 metropolitan statistical areas in North Dakota. Salaries can vary significantly between metro areas due to cost of living, industry concentration, and local labor demand.
How many jobs are tracked in North Dakota? ▼
BLS publishes wage data for 551 distinct occupations in North Dakota. The top-paying tier shown on this page alone (the 50 occupations in the table below) covers approximately 19,720 employed workers. Data comes from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey of employers.

Related federal data

BLS OEWS, state wage tables → BLS QCEW state series → BLS LAUS, state unemployment → BEA, personal income by state → OSHA establishment data → DOL Wage & Hour Division →

What to do with this data

How to use North Dakota wage data in a real decision

  • A wage here stretches differently by local cost of living than the same number would elsewhere, so weigh pay against rent and prices before relocating, not just the raw dollar figure. Compare states
  • Open a specific occupation to see its full pay band, percentiles, and metro detail for this state, statewide figures blur real variation between roles. Browse occupations
  • Treat this as a state benchmark, not a personal prediction. Your offer depends on your exact role, employer, experience, and the metro you work in. Salary calculator

BLS OEWS estimates reflect the May 2025 reference period and exclude self-employed workers; some small occupation-area cells are suppressed.

Last updated: May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

State-level employment totals and metro breakouts from BLS OEWS State and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2025. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. State wage figures are computed directly from BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Statewide figures are aggregates and may not reflect pay in your specific metro area or employer, consult a qualified career counselor or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.