Average Salaries in North Dakota
Explore salaries across 565 occupations in North Dakota. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $64.1K, +4.1% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 565 occupations and 417,310 total jobs in North Dakota.
How the state compares
Wages in North Dakota track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
North Dakota has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Nurse Anesthetists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in North Dakota
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in North Dakota
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetists | $232.4K | 250 |
| Pediatricians, General | $225.3K | 120 |
| Dentists, General | $201.3K | 210 |
| Chief Executives | $171.3K | 370 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $140.6K | 300 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $138.4K | N/A |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $136.3K | 650 |
| Pharmacists | $135.6K | 980 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $133.5K | 120 |
| Petroleum Engineers | $130.1K | 190 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in North Dakota
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| General And Operations Managers | 11,660 | $93.3K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 11,580 | $30.0K |
| Registered Nurses | 11,000 | $78.3K |
| Heavy And Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 10,510 | $59.0K |
| Retail Salespersons | 10,450 | $35.7K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 10,140 | $44.6K |
| Cashiers | 9,290 | $30.6K |
| Office Clerks, General | 8,950 | $48.9K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 7,090 | $39.1K |
| Nursing Assistants | 6,920 | $44.2K |
What North Dakota specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in North Dakota than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in North Dakota
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil And Gas | 25.40 | $62.3K |
| Derrick Operators, Oil And Gas | 23.92 | $69.8K |
| Roustabouts, Oil And Gas | 21.55 | $60.1K |
| Wellhead Pumpers | 19.10 | $83.5K |
| Tank Car, Truck, And Ship Loaders | 10.95 | $58.5K |
| Chemical Plant And System Operators | 8.32 | $113.0K |
| Soil And Plant Scientists | 8.30 | $61.8K |
| Wind Turbine Service Technicians | 8.03 | $75.1K |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas | 7.70 | $69.6K |
| Motion Picture Projectionists | 7.54 | $29.6K |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| New Jersey | $73.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Alaska | $73.0K | Dentists, General |
| Connecticut | $72.7K | Nurse Anesthetists |
Metros inside North Dakota
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in North Dakota
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $63.6K | 142,010 |
| Bismarck, ND | $64.1K | 64,280 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $63.3K | 45,320 |
| Minot, ND | $60.7K | 27,030 |
Common salary questions for North Dakota
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.