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Average Salary in North Dakota
This page shows what jobs actually pay in North Dakota, occupation by occupation, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024. BLS publishes wage estimates for 543 occupations in North Dakota. For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage in May 2024 was $67,920, the median wage was $23.80 an hour, and total U.S. employment covered by the survey was 154,187,380 jobs. Use the tables below to see North Dakota's highest-paying occupations, its largest occupations, and which North Dakota jobs pay more — or less — than the same job nationally.
Highest-paying occupations in North Dakota
The highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for North Dakota is surgeons, all other, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ — 719.2% higher than the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920 — and a median wage of $239,200+ across 140 jobs. Compared with the same occupation nationally (mean $239,200+), North Dakota pays 49.9% higher for this work. Next on the list are emergency medicine physicians at a mean of $239,200+ and physicians, all other at $239,200+. These top-paying fields are small: together the top three employ 750 people in North Dakota, so they describe the top of the North Dakota wage ladder rather than the typical worker's experience.
| Occupation | Employment | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeons, All Other | 140 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | 150 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, All Other | 460 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Psychiatrists | 30 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 120 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 160 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 280 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Anesthesiologists | 60 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Cardiologists | 40 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 70 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, Pathologists | 40 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Chief Executives | 370 | $82.36 | $171,310 | $232,120 |
| Pediatricians, General | 120 | $108.29 | $225,250 | $229,600 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 250 | $111.74 | $232,420 | $229,180 |
| Dentists, General | 210 | $96.77 | $201,280 | $224,300 |
Largest occupations in North Dakota
The occupation with the most jobs in North Dakota is general and operations managers, employing an estimated 11,660 people at a median annual wage of $93,290 and a mean of $114,420. Nationally the same occupation pays a median of $102,950, so North Dakota's typical pay for this work runs 9.4% lower. The next-largest occupations are fast food and counter workers (11,580 jobs, median $30,010) and registered nurses (11,000 jobs, median $78,260). Because these occupations are so large, their wages move the overall picture of North Dakota pay far more than the small, highly paid fields above.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 11,660 | $93,290 | $114,420 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 11,580 | $30,010 | $30,150 |
| Registered Nurses | 11,000 | $78,260 | $81,900 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 10,510 | $58,970 | $59,840 |
| Retail Salespersons | 10,450 | $35,670 | $38,910 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 10,140 | $44,630 | $44,830 |
| Cashiers | 9,290 | $30,610 | $31,570 |
| Office Clerks, General | 8,950 | $48,900 | $52,730 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 7,090 | $39,100 | $40,290 |
| Nursing Assistants | 6,920 | $44,190 | $42,530 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 6,860 | $36,660 | $38,370 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 6,470 | $43,160 | $46,090 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 6,070 | $45,490 | $44,890 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 5,550 | $36,810 | $37,430 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 5,290 | $29,420 | $35,600 |
Where North Dakota pays a premium — and where it lags
Comparing each occupation's North Dakota median with its own national median shows where North Dakota's labor market is strong. Among occupations with at least 1,000 North Dakota jobs, the largest premium is for parts salespersons: a median of $52,000 in North Dakota versus $37,440 nationally, 38.9% higher. The largest discount is for lawyers, at $104,940 in North Dakota versus $151,160 nationally, 30.6% lower. In total, 50 of the 92 occupations with 1,000 or more North Dakota jobs pay a median above their national median. Separately, 194 of the 543 occupations published for North Dakota have a median annual wage above the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920, which underlines how much of North Dakota's job base sits in lower-wage service work even in a state with high-paying headline jobs.
| Occupation | North Dakota median | U.S. median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parts Salespersons | $52,000 | $37,440 | +38.9% |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $60,140 | $47,510 | +26.6% |
| Highway Maintenance Workers | $60,830 | $49,070 | +24.0% |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $55,760 | $46,040 | +21.1% |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $76,450 | $63,980 | +19.5% |
| Financial Managers | $130,070 | $161,700 | -19.6% |
| Coaches and Scouts | $35,940 | $45,920 | -21.7% |
| Software Developers | $98,550 | $133,080 | -25.9% |
| Management Analysts | $73,080 | $101,190 | -27.8% |
| Lawyers | $104,940 | $151,160 | -30.6% |
North Dakota salary FAQ
What is the highest-paying job in North Dakota?
By average pay, surgeons, all other is the highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for North Dakota, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ and a median of $239,200+ in May 2024.
What is the average salary in North Dakota?
For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage was $67,920 in May 2024. In North Dakota, the largest occupation, general and operations managers, paid a median of $93,290 across 11,660 jobs, and the tables on this page show mean and median pay for all 543 published occupations.
How many jobs does the largest occupation in North Dakota have?
General and Operations Managers is the largest occupation published for North Dakota, with an estimated 11,660 jobs in May 2024 and a mean annual wage of $114,420.
Which occupations pay more in North Dakota than in the U.S. overall?
Among occupations with at least 1,000 North Dakota jobs, parts salespersons shows the largest premium: a median of $52,000 in North Dakota versus $37,440 nationally, 38.9% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.