State salary profile · North Dakota

North Dakota Salaries

North Dakota wages where BEA prices sit below the national average (RPP 89), from BLS OEWS May 2025. Published local OEWS areas include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area.

$173,672
Mean of top 50 medians
551
Occupations
6
Local wage areas
19,720
Estimated jobs (top tier)

The equal-weighted mean of the top 50 published occupation medians in North Dakota is $173,672.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, The May 2025 release has a published median for 551 occupations in North Dakota; percentile boundaries and local-area rows are available only where BLS publishes them. The highest-paying reported occupation, Surgeons, All Other, earns $604,890, versus $23,410 for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other at the bottom of the range. Detail is available for 4 metro areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas. Published local OEWS areas include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area.

North Dakota · employment ≠ wage

In North Dakota, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers lead by published employment (11,870 jobs, #1 of 538) but rank #265 of 538 on median wage ($60,910), while Surgeons, All Other top the wage list at $604,890 (#1 of 538) with 150 jobs (#356 of 538). The largest payroll is not the highest published median.

11,870
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer ... employment #1
$604,890
Surgeons wage #1
#356
Employment rank of wage leader
#265
Wage rank of employment leader

Employment is OEWS tot_emp inside this state; pay is the occupation median. Same detailed-occupation pool, two rankings.

Employment of North Dakota's #1 occupations by headcount vs median wage

Same unit (published jobs) for both named leaders. BLS OEWS May 2025.

jobs

What this shows Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers lead North Dakota by employment; Surgeons, All Other lead on median wage at $604,890.

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

North Dakota, the picture in one line

North Dakota ranks #31 of 54 states and territories by BLS-published All Occupations annual mean wage; its highest published occupation median is Surgeons, All Other at $604,890. Published local OEWS areas include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area.

#31
of 54 states by published mean wage
$604,890
top-paying: Surgeons, All Other
43rd
percentile among all states
Bismarck, ND
local OEWS: Bismarck, ND and East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area

The state rank uses BLS's All Occupations mean. Occupation rows below use occupation-specific medians; the two statistics are not interchangeable. Start local checks in Bismarck, ND.

Where North Dakota already employs the upper wage tier

Financial Managers and Managers, All Other lead North Dakota's published employment inside this top-pay sample, order follows OEWS job counts, not median wage.

  1. 1. Financial Managers 2,140 jobs · $135,890
  2. 2. Managers, All Other 2,040 jobs · $126,440
  3. 3. Software Developers 1,450 jobs · $105,600
  4. 4. Nurse Practitioners 1,290 jobs · $130,070
  5. 5. Pharmacists 1,070 jobs · $142,040
  6. 6. Lawyers 1,050 jobs · $106,880
  7. 7. Computer and Information Systems Managers 850 jobs · $149,130
  8. 8. Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary 810 jobs · $107,940
  9. 9. Physicians, All Other 740 jobs · $454,550
  10. 10. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers 740 jobs · $105,870
  11. 11. Sales Managers 550 jobs · $119,990
  12. 12. Physician Assistants 510 jobs · $133,450
  13. 13. Industrial Production Managers 490 jobs · $116,050
  14. 14. Chief Executives 380 jobs · $164,560
  15. 15. Commercial Pilots 370 jobs · $133,010
  16. 16. Information Security Analysts 310 jobs · $107,540
  17. 17. Human Resources Managers 290 jobs · $139,050
  18. 18. Architectural and Engineering Managers 270 jobs · $147,400
  19. 19. Family Medicine Physicians 260 jobs · $280,100
  20. 20. Dentists, General 260 jobs · $220,660

Local BLS wage areas inside North Dakota

Published local OEWS areas include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area.

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

Observed statewide pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2024–2025

May 2024 → May 2025
  • BLS's published All Occupations median in North Dakota moved from $50,320 in May 2024 to $52,480 in May 2025 (+4.3%).
  • Across the 54 states and territories priced in both releases, the median place changed +2.7%.
  • North Dakota sits +1.5 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Registered Nurses shows the widest statewide vs national median gap in North Dakota

Registered Nurses publishes $80,730 here versus $97,550 nationally (-17.2%; 11,340statewide jobs). Next is Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $45,690 locally versus $40,240 nationally (+13.5%).

  1. Registered Nurses$80,730 in North Dakota sits 17.2% below the national Registered Nurses median of $97,550 (11,340 published local jobs).
  2. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$45,690 in North Dakota sits 13.5% above the national Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand median of $40,240 (9,990 published local jobs).
  3. Waiters and Waitresses$30,890 in North Dakota sits 12.3% below the national Waiters and Waitresses median of $35,230 (5,250 published local jobs).
  4. Office Clerks, General$50,160 in North Dakota sits 11.4% above the national Office Clerks, General median of $45,010 (8,440 published local jobs).

Registered Nurses and the other occupations above are descriptive OEWS endpoints for North Dakota; they are not findings about taxes, employers, or worker experience.

· Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

The North Dakota OEWS table has a published median for 551 occupations. The displayed top 50 rows have summed published employment of approximately 19,720; that sum does not include the bottom table or rows whose employment is suppressed. BLS publishes means and percentile boundaries only where the corresponding estimate meets its publication standards. Averaging the medians of the top 50 highest-paying occupations gives $173,672 per year. That is only a mean of the displayed upper-tier occupation medians; it is not the BLS All Occupations mean or median and does not describe a typical worker. Published local OEWS areas include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area. Local OEWS areas in this extract include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area.

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 published range, Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other has a median of $23,410, making the displayed endpoint ratio 25.8×. The endpoints do not establish a cause or career stage. WageDex has BLS occupation rows for 4 metro areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas assigned to North Dakota, allowing comparisons below the statewide estimate without treating nonmetropolitan areas as MSAs.

North Dakota's lower BEA price level (RPP 89) lifts the national-price reading of the published mean to about $71,966. Even then, compare Surgeons, All Other and Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other inside a local OEWS area before treating either median as an offer. Published local OEWS areas include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area. Local OEWS area names are state-specific; statewide means are not metro offers.

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 by published mean wage

BLS All Occupations annual mean vs. 54 states & territories; local OEWS includes Bismarck, ND and East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN

$64,050 Bottom 43% higher than 43% 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: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 3 states & territories (6%). Below this entry. $55,000–$60,000: 8 states & territories (15%). Below this entry. $60,000–$65,000: 16 states & territories (30%). This entry sits in this band. $65,000–$70,000: 8 states & territories (15%). Above this entry. $70,000–$75,000: 8 states & territories (15%). Above this entry. $75,000–$80,000: 4 states & territories (7%). Above this entry. $80,000–$85,000: 3 states & territories (6%). Above this entry. $85,000–$90,000: 1 states & territories (2%). 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: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $105,000–$110,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $110,000–$115,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Above this entry. This state $0 $115,000 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.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$5,000 0 states & territories 0%
$5,000–$10,000 0 states & territories 0%
$10,000–$15,000 0 states & territories 0%
$15,000–$20,000 0 states & territories 0%
$20,000–$25,000 0 states & territories 0%
$25,000–$30,000 0 states & territories 0%
$30,000–$35,000 0 states & territories 0%
$35,000–$40,000 1 states & territories 2%
$40,000–$45,000 0 states & territories 0%
$45,000–$50,000 1 states & territories 2%
$50,000–$55,000 3 states & territories 6%
$55,000–$60,000 8 states & territories 15%
$60,000–$65,000 (this entry) 16 states & territories 30%
$65,000–$70,000 8 states & territories 15%
$70,000–$75,000 8 states & territories 15%
$75,000–$80,000 4 states & territories 7%
$80,000–$85,000 3 states & territories 6%
$85,000–$90,000 1 states & territories 2%
$90,000–$95,000 0 states & territories 0%
$95,000–$100,000 0 states & territories 0%
$100,000–$105,000 0 states & territories 0%
$105,000–$110,000 0 states & territories 0%
$110,000–$115,000 1 states & territories 2%

$64,050 · 43rd percentile of 54 states & territories

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

North Dakota ranks #31 of 54 by BLS-published All Occupations annual mean wage ($64,050). It is not the median wage or a prediction for a particular worker.

National-price-equivalent mean: dividing the $64,050 BLS All Occupations mean by the BEA state RPP gives $71,966. Inputs: BEA Regional Price Parity for North Dakota (RPP 89.0, 2024; 100 = national average, all items, table SARPP). The division is a WageDex calculation, not an after-tax or household-income measure.

Largest OEWS footprints in North Dakota

Published employment among the top-pay sample, top 15 by jobs

jobs
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, reordered by published employment for this reading. Drill into the full top-100 ranking or the fastest-growing list for deeper coverage.

Top-pay occupations in North Dakota, by employment

View all 100 →

Same top-pay sample as the salary ranking, sorted by published North Dakota jobs so the title sequence follows the local OEWS mix.

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

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 national growth projections alongside the published OEWS state employment estimates for each occupation in North Dakota. Based on BLS employment projections 2024-2034.

Metro and Nonmetropolitan Wage 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 local wage and price-level benchmarks

Fastest Growing Occupations

Where the job growth is heading

Nationwide states with similar All Occupations pay or employment scale

Two BLS OEWS peer sets outside North Dakota. Local metro cards below stay inside this state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors on published All Occupations mean wage ($64,050 here) and reported employment (429,430 jobs here).

Similar mean wage

Nearest other states by BLS All Occupations annual mean wage.

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (floor 250,000 All Occupations jobs), distinct from the mean-wage column.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS All Occupations mean annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the mean-wage column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Local OEWS areas and related North Dakota pages

Published local OEWS areas include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area.

Bismarck, ND

Local OEWS wage area

East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area

Local OEWS wage area

Fargo, ND-MN

Local OEWS wage area

Grand Forks, ND-MN

Local OEWS wage area

Minot, ND

Local OEWS wage area

West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area

Local OEWS wage area

Highest Paying in North Dakota

Top 100 by median salary

Fastest Growing in North Dakota

Projected 2024-2034 growth

Surgeons, All Other

National occupation profile

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average of the top 50 occupation medians in North Dakota? ▼
The equal-weighted mean of the top 50 published occupation medians is $173,672/year (BLS OEWS May 2025). It is not the statewide mean or median and does not describe the wage of a typical worker.
What is the average salary in North Dakota? ▼
BLS publishes an All Occupations annual mean wage of $64,050/year for North Dakota in the May 2025 OEWS release, which ranks 31st among the 54 states and territories with a published mean. Published local OEWS areas include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area. This is an occupational wage estimate, not a household-income statistic or a prediction for one worker.
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 published occupation median in this North Dakota ranking is Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other at $23,410/year. The table does not classify that occupation as entry-level or explain why its median is lowest.
How many local BLS wage areas are shown for North Dakota? ▼
WageDex has occupation-level wage rows for 4 metro areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas assigned to North Dakota. Published local OEWS areas include Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Minot, ND, West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area. Nonmetropolitan reporting areas are not MSAs. Compare the same occupation and statistic across areas; published coverage can differ by occupation and geography.
How many occupations are shown for North Dakota? ▼
BLS publishes wage data for 551 distinct occupations in North Dakota. The 50 occupations in the displayed upper tier have a combined OEWS employment estimate of approximately 19,720 jobs in covered establishments.

Price-level sources for North Dakota

BLS OEWS state wage tables → BEA Regional Price Parities → BLS LAUS unemployment → BEA personal income by state →

What to do with this data

How to use North Dakota wage data in a real decision

  • North Dakota prices sit below the national BEA average (RPP 89), so the published $64,050 mean is closer to $71,966 nationally; still re-check Surgeons, All Other inside Bismarck, ND and East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area before relocating. Compare states
  • Inside North Dakota, re-check Surgeons, All Other in Bismarck, ND, East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, Fargo, ND-MN, Grand Forks, ND-MN or Minot, ND before treating the statewide median as a metro offer. Bismarck, ND
  • Open Surgeons, All Other for percentile bands and local-area rows; North Dakota's statewide median of $604,890 uses a different geography than any single metro estimate. Surgeons, All Other
  • The published North Dakota range runs from Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other at $23,410 to Surgeons, All Other at $604,890; an offer still depends on the exact role and employer. 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 local-area breakouts from BLS OEWS State and Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2025. Local areas can be metropolitan or nonmetropolitan.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. 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 estimates and may not reflect pay in your specific local wage area or employer.