Jobs that lost the most to inflation in North Dakota

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Wind Turbine Service Technicians$66,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,360 – $105,330-36.2%-19.7% nominal
2Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School$46,530
Bachelor's degree
$46,530 – $73,970-31.7%-14.0% nominal
3Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$34,230
No formal educational credential
$19,630 – $64,850-30.9%-12.9% nominal
4Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,460 – $96,440-30.2%-12.1% nominal
5Soil and Plant Scientists$65,320
Bachelor's degree
$53,590 – $117,010-28.3%-9.8% nominal
6Optometrists$132,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,610 – $178,900-28.1%-9.4% nominal
7Self-Enrichment Teachers$35,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,010 – $62,080-26.5%-7.5% nominal
8Health Education Specialists$59,650
Bachelor's degree
$47,410 – $90,660-23.6%-3.8% nominal
9Medical and Health Services Managers$105,170
Bachelor's degree
$78,150 – $179,740-23.5%-3.6% nominal
10Special Education Teachers, Middle School$57,680
Bachelor's degree
$47,350 – $82,930-23.4%-3.6% nominal
11Editors$60,520
Bachelor's degree
$30,660 – $92,930-23.0%-3.1% nominal
12Bailiffs$27,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,560 – $55,480-22.5%-2.4% nominal
13Education Administrators, Postsecondary$101,600
Master's degree
$64,420 – $233,160-22.1%-1.9% nominal
14Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$63,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$15,490 – $122,270-20.7%-0.2% nominal
15Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$57,950
Bachelor's degree
$47,060 – $77,150-20.4%+0.2% nominal
16Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$58,960
Master's degree
$46,860 – $79,500-19.7%+1.1% nominal
17First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$62,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $90,140-19.0%+2.0% nominal
18Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$63,670
Bachelor's degree
$45,510 – $234,590-19.0%+2.0% nominal
19Surveyors$79,360
Bachelor's degree
$52,680 – $127,780-18.9%+2.2% nominal
20Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$61,210
Bachelor's degree
$47,280 – $80,320-18.7%+2.4% nominal
21Advertising Sales Agents$50,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,180 – $94,440-17.6%+3.7% nominal
22First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$65,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,880 – $115,180-16.9%+4.7% nominal
23Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$50,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,500 – $81,560-16.9%+4.6% nominal
24Insurance Underwriters$74,130
Bachelor's degree
$54,790 – $99,490-16.9%+4.6% nominal
25Sales Managers$119,990
Bachelor's degree
$79,610 – $197,290-16.9%+4.6% nominal
26Electricians$65,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,440 – $101,020-16.8%+4.7% nominal
27Detectives and Criminal Investigators$82,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,350 – $129,230-16.8%+4.7% nominal
28Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$34,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,520 – $52,010-16.0%+5.8% nominal
29Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,260 – $73,920-15.8%+6.1% nominal
30Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,210 – $104,350-15.4%+6.5% nominal
31Physical Therapists$85,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,290 – $113,600-15.4%+6.5% nominal
32Lawyers$106,880
Doctoral or professional degree
$70,500 – $194,840-15.3%+6.6% nominal
33Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$60,100
Bachelor's degree
$47,090 – $79,760-15.0%+7.0% nominal
34Social and Human Service Assistants$46,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,270 – $66,170-14.2%+8.0% nominal
35Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$58,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,030 – $101,070-14.2%+8.1% nominal
36Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$57,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,560 – $82,030-14.1%+8.2% nominal
37Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$61,500
Bachelor's degree
$48,520 – $79,870-13.9%+8.4% nominal
38Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$46,450
No formal educational credential
$38,830 – $60,430-13.9%+8.4% nominal
39Urban and Regional Planners$78,500
Master's degree
$61,070 – $129,930-13.8%+8.5% nominal
40Marketing Managers$125,580
Bachelor's degree
$78,340 – $198,340-13.5%+8.9% nominal
41Bill and Account Collectors$46,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,580 – $59,990-13.4%+9.0% nominal
42Electrical Engineers$110,810
Bachelor's degree
$77,350 – $155,520-13.1%+9.5% nominal
43Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$107,940
Master's degree
$81,010 – $155,860-13.0%+9.5% nominal
44Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$52,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,120 – $82,220-12.9%+9.7% nominal
45Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$51,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,230 – $63,910-12.9%+9.7% nominal
46Training and Development Specialists$63,260
Bachelor's degree
$47,770 – $98,200-12.7%+9.9% nominal
47Speech-Language Pathologists$75,240
Master's degree
$56,140 – $103,350-12.1%+10.7% nominal
48Manicurists and Pedicurists$33,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,560 – $76,120-12.1%+10.7% nominal
49Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$37,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,140 – $60,070-12.0%+10.8% nominal
50Fence Erectors$49,310
No formal educational credential
$44,620 – $49,940-11.9%+10.9% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Wind Turbine Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,700	$51,360 – $105,330	-36.2%-19.7% nominal
2	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$46,530	$46,530 – $73,970	-31.7%-14.0% nominal
3	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$34,230	$19,630 – $64,850	-30.9%-12.9% nominal
4	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,280	$45,460 – $96,440	-30.2%-12.1% nominal
5	Soil and Plant ScientistsBachelor's degree	$65,320	$53,590 – $117,010	-28.3%-9.8% nominal
6	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$132,110	$74,610 – $178,900	-28.1%-9.4% nominal
7	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,100	$28,010 – $62,080	-26.5%-7.5% nominal
8	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$59,650	$47,410 – $90,660	-23.6%-3.8% nominal
9	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$105,170	$78,150 – $179,740	-23.5%-3.6% nominal
10	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$57,680	$47,350 – $82,930	-23.4%-3.6% nominal
11	EditorsBachelor's degree	$60,520	$30,660 – $92,930	-23.0%-3.1% nominal
12	BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,560	$27,560 – $55,480	-22.5%-2.4% nominal
13	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$101,600	$64,420 – $233,160	-22.1%-1.9% nominal
14	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$63,430	$15,490 – $122,270	-20.7%-0.2% nominal
15	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$57,950	$47,060 – $77,150	-20.4%+0.2% nominal
16	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$58,960	$46,860 – $79,500	-19.7%+1.1% nominal
17	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,280	$45,670 – $90,140	-19.0%+2.0% nominal
18	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$63,670	$45,510 – $234,590	-19.0%+2.0% nominal
19	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$79,360	$52,680 – $127,780	-18.9%+2.2% nominal
20	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$61,210	$47,280 – $80,320	-18.7%+2.4% nominal
21	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,110	$32,180 – $94,440	-17.6%+3.7% nominal
22	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,070	$45,880 – $115,180	-16.9%+4.7% nominal
23	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,820	$40,500 – $81,560	-16.9%+4.6% nominal
24	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$74,130	$54,790 – $99,490	-16.9%+4.6% nominal
25	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$119,990	$79,610 – $197,290	-16.9%+4.6% nominal
26	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,710	$46,440 – $101,020	-16.8%+4.7% nominal
27	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,290	$58,350 – $129,230	-16.8%+4.7% nominal
28	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,870	$34,520 – $52,010	-16.0%+5.8% nominal
29	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,280	$36,260 – $73,920	-15.8%+6.1% nominal
30	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,990	$51,210 – $104,350	-15.4%+6.5% nominal
31	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$85,330	$75,290 – $113,600	-15.4%+6.5% nominal
32	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$106,880	$70,500 – $194,840	-15.3%+6.6% nominal
33	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$60,100	$47,090 – $79,760	-15.0%+7.0% nominal
34	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,260	$37,270 – $66,170	-14.2%+8.0% nominal
35	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,330	$48,030 – $101,070	-14.2%+8.1% nominal
36	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,580	$38,560 – $82,030	-14.1%+8.2% nominal
37	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$61,500	$48,520 – $79,870	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
38	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$46,450	$38,830 – $60,430	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
39	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$78,500	$61,070 – $129,930	-13.8%+8.5% nominal
40	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$125,580	$78,340 – $198,340	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
41	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,660	$35,580 – $59,990	-13.4%+9.0% nominal
42	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$110,810	$77,350 – $155,520	-13.1%+9.5% nominal
43	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$107,940	$81,010 – $155,860	-13.0%+9.5% nominal
44	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,040	$39,120 – $82,220	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
45	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,810	$43,230 – $63,910	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
46	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$63,260	$47,770 – $98,200	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
47	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$75,240	$56,140 – $103,350	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
48	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$33,430	$30,560 – $76,120	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
49	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,760	$30,140 – $60,070	-12.0%+10.8% nominal
50	Fence ErectorsNo formal educational credential	$49,310	$44,620 – $49,940	-11.9%+10.9% nominal

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.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in North Dakota

More for North Dakota

Metro areas in North Dakota

By field in North Dakota

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state