Fastest growing jobs in North Dakota, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in North Dakota. Percent growth favours small occupations, so the openings column is often the more useful number — a fast-growing job with few openings is harder to enter than a flat one with many.

State projections are produced by North Dakota's own workforce agency and collected by Projections Central — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections only at the national level. Methodology varies by state, so these are not directly comparable with the national figures. Wages remain BLS OEWS.

Cost of living: prices in North Dakota run 11.0% below the national average (2024), so a North Dakota salary is worth about 1.12× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in North Dakota.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in North Dakota

OccupationMedian, North Dakota · Growth 2024–34

1Nurse Practitioners$130,070
Master's degree
$103,490 – $162,020+45.1%
2Physician Assistants$133,450
Master's degree
$77,300 – $173,860+27.3%
3Medical and Health Services Managers$105,170
Bachelor's degree
$78,150 – $179,740+25.1%
4Home Health and Personal Care Aides$39,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,220 – $49,190+22.5%
5Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$68,630
Master's degree
$43,270 – $86,630+19.5%
6Financial Managers$135,890
Bachelor's degree
$87,610 – $229,150+18.8%
7Personal Financial Advisors$76,870
Bachelor's degree
$59,470 – $135,470+17.9%
8Industrial Engineers$96,940
Bachelor's degree
$56,770 – $132,110+17.6%
9Occupational Therapists$83,200
Master's degree
$66,890 – $106,300+16.9%
10Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,210 – $104,350+16.8%
11Cooks, Restaurant$36,470
No formal educational credential
$28,850 – $45,650+16.6%
12Computer and Information Systems Managers$149,130
Bachelor's degree
$94,820 – $192,560+16.4%
13Coaches and Scouts$37,100
Bachelor's degree
$24,330 – $75,210+16.3%
14Software Developers$105,600
Bachelor's degree
$62,900 – $158,060+15.7%
15Mechanical Engineers$86,330
Bachelor's degree
$63,930 – $136,060+15.7%
16Electricians$65,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,440 – $101,020+15.4%
17Medical Assistants$45,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,650 – $58,230+14.9%
18Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$93,250
Bachelor's degree
$63,660 – $130,410+14.9%
19Physical Therapists$85,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,290 – $113,600+14.5%
20Speech-Language Pathologists$75,240
Master's degree
$56,140 – $103,350+13.9%
21Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$37,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,140 – $60,070+13.6%
22Computer Occupations, All Other$78,330
Bachelor's degree
$38,730 – $123,590+13.1%
23Management Analysts$90,220
Bachelor's degree
$49,260 – $127,380+12.9%
24Pharmacists$142,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$105,490 – $167,940+12.5%
25Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$63,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,120 – $90,260+12.4%
26Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$74,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,610 – $94,060+12.4%
27Training and Development Specialists$63,260
Bachelor's degree
$47,770 – $98,200+12.4%
28Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$37,560
No formal educational credential
$30,560 – $52,600+12.2%
29Social and Human Service Assistants$46,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,270 – $66,170+12.2%
30Pharmacy Technicians$47,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,370 – $63,850+12.0%
31Light Truck Drivers$47,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,750 – $92,440+11.8%
32Stockers and Order Fillers$36,790
No formal educational credential
$31,530 – $47,740+11.6%
33Animal Caretakers$34,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,960 – $62,170+11.3%
34Construction Managers$102,070
Bachelor's degree
$63,470 – $168,570+10.9%
35Registered Nurses$80,730
Bachelor's degree
$65,520 – $103,480+10.9%
36Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$28,430
No formal educational credential
$22,880 – $33,930+10.8%
37Buyers and Purchasing Agents$76,400
Bachelor's degree
$52,630 – $106,070+10.6%
38Human Resources Specialists$75,630
Bachelor's degree
$50,520 – $116,990+10.5%
39Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$47,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $58,620+10.5%
40Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$40,790
No formal educational credential
$31,480 – $57,600+10.4%
41Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$49,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,050 – $80,380+10.3%
42Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$76,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $101,830+10.3%
43Driver/Sales Workers$38,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$19,550 – $62,320+9.9%
44Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,170 – $71,140+9.8%
45Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$31,010
No formal educational credential
$21,110 – $37,320+9.7%
46Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$39,720
Associate's degree
$25,990 – $59,560+9.7%
47Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$61,580
Bachelor's degree
$39,480 – $102,950+9.7%
48Construction Laborers$49,070
No formal educational credential
$38,990 – $71,210+9.6%
49Civil Engineers$98,190
Bachelor's degree
$63,290 – $143,740+9.5%
50Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$67,790
Associate's degree
$60,600 – $93,870+9.3%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianNorth Dakota	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$130,070	$103,490 – $162,020	+45.1%
2	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$133,450	$77,300 – $173,860	+27.3%
3	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$105,170	$78,150 – $179,740	+25.1%
4	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,440	$36,220 – $49,190	+22.5%
5	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$68,630	$43,270 – $86,630	+19.5%
6	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$135,890	$87,610 – $229,150	+18.8%
7	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$76,870	$59,470 – $135,470	+17.9%
8	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,940	$56,770 – $132,110	+17.6%
9	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$83,200	$66,890 – $106,300	+16.9%
10	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,990	$51,210 – $104,350	+16.8%
11	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$36,470	$28,850 – $45,650	+16.6%
12	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$149,130	$94,820 – $192,560	+16.4%
13	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$37,100	$24,330 – $75,210	+16.3%
14	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$105,600	$62,900 – $158,060	+15.7%
15	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$86,330	$63,930 – $136,060	+15.7%
16	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,710	$46,440 – $101,020	+15.4%
17	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,980	$37,650 – $58,230	+14.9%
18	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$93,250	$63,660 – $130,410	+14.9%
19	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$85,330	$75,290 – $113,600	+14.5%
20	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$75,240	$56,140 – $103,350	+13.9%
21	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,760	$30,140 – $60,070	+13.6%
22	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$78,330	$38,730 – $123,590	+13.1%
23	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$90,220	$49,260 – $127,380	+12.9%
24	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$142,040	$105,490 – $167,940	+12.5%
25	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,030	$48,120 – $90,260	+12.4%
26	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,490	$46,610 – $94,060	+12.4%
27	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$63,260	$47,770 – $98,200	+12.4%
28	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$37,560	$30,560 – $52,600	+12.2%
29	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,260	$37,270 – $66,170	+12.2%
30	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,560	$38,370 – $63,850	+12.0%
31	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,950	$33,750 – $92,440	+11.8%
32	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$36,790	$31,530 – $47,740	+11.6%
33	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,040	$29,960 – $62,170	+11.3%
34	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$102,070	$63,470 – $168,570	+10.9%
35	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$80,730	$65,520 – $103,480	+10.9%
36	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,430	$22,880 – $33,930	+10.8%
37	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$76,400	$52,630 – $106,070	+10.6%
38	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,630	$50,520 – $116,990	+10.5%
39	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,390	$38,710 – $58,620	+10.5%
40	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$40,790	$31,480 – $57,600	+10.4%
41	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,480	$38,050 – $80,380	+10.3%
42	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,030	$52,000 – $101,830	+10.3%
43	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,610	$19,550 – $62,320	+9.9%
44	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,190	$38,170 – $71,140	+9.8%
45	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$31,010	$21,110 – $37,320	+9.7%
46	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$39,720	$25,990 – $59,560	+9.7%
47	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$61,580	$39,480 – $102,950	+9.7%
48	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$49,070	$38,990 – $71,210	+9.6%
49	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,190	$63,290 – $143,740	+9.5%
50	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,790	$60,600 – $93,870	+9.3%

More for North Dakota

Metro areas in North Dakota

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in North Dakota

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in North Dakota to rank honestly.

Fastest growing jobs in North Dakota, 2024–34

More for North Dakota

Metro areas in North Dakota

By field in North Dakota

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34