Jobs that pay the biggest premium in North Dakota

Each occupation's median wage in North Dakota compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where North Dakota pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Physicians, All Other$454,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$136,980 – $564,890+70.9%
2Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$90,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $123,880+57.4%
3Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials$63,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,900 – $91,040+57.0%
4Surgeons, All Other$604,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$231,280 – $680,960+46.1%
5Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$90,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,280 – $103,150+42.3%
6Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$103,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,760 – $111,240+39.3%
7Rehabilitation Counselors$63,050
Master's degree
$58,190 – $76,120+34.6%
8Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$98,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,480 – $133,840+33.2%
9Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$66,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,850 – $105,180+33.1%
10General Internal Medicine Physicians$338,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$190,430 – $379,100+31.9%
11Structural Iron and Steel Workers$82,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,410 – $99,840+30.8%
12Dentists, General$220,660
Doctoral or professional degree
$138,570 – $308,040+29.1%
13Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$60,480
No formal educational credential
$38,850 – $78,290+28.8%
14Brickmasons and Blockmasons$79,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,640 – $91,750+28.7%
15Skincare Specialists$58,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,710 – $89,270+28.3%
16Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$45,590
No formal educational credential
$36,720 – $53,970+27.6%
17Parts Salespersons$48,600
No formal educational credential
$34,890 – $68,640+25.8%
18Protective Service Workers, All Other$53,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $76,010+25.7%
19Forest and Conservation Technicians$68,600
Associate's degree
$44,950 – $71,120+25.7%
20Riggers$77,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,210 – $169,480+24.3%
21Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$47,250
No formal educational credential
$31,250 – $47,250+23.4%
22Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$58,720
Some college, no degree
$37,460 – $74,570+22.8%
23Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$71,850
No formal educational credential
$63,380 – $80,040+22.6%
24Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$74,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,610 – $94,060+22.1%
25Crane and Tower Operators$82,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,200 – $96,790+21.8%
26Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$60,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,930 – $70,130+21.7%
27New Accounts Clerks$57,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,670 – $74,100+21.6%
28Highway Maintenance Workers$60,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,400 – $78,510+20.6%
29Dental Assistants$57,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,680 – $72,710+20.2%
30Power Plant Operators$122,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$104,300 – $134,280+19.7%
31Medical Equipment Repairers$73,610
Associate's degree
$48,630 – $98,370+19.4%
32Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$60,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,530 – $72,660+18.9%
33Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$54,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,520 – $81,340+18.7%
34Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$59,000
No formal educational credential
$41,690 – $71,330+18.7%
35Helpers--Production Workers$46,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,940 – $60,980+18.2%
36Emergency Medicine Physicians$392,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$208,740 – $650,950+17.1%
37Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$76,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $101,830+16.1%
38Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$68,630
Master's degree
$43,270 – $86,630+15.6%
39Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$116,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$69,520 – $148,320+15.5%
40Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$73,570
Bachelor's degree
$43,680 – $104,290+15.3%
41Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$62,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $83,290+15.3%
42Agricultural Equipment Operators$48,080
No formal educational credential
$39,020 – $60,820+15.2%
43Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,960 – $75,830+15.1%
44Residential Advisors$48,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $62,850+15.0%
45Family Medicine Physicians$280,100
Doctoral or professional degree
$181,130 – $346,400+14.7%
46Insurance Sales Agents$71,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,770 – $161,130+14.4%
47Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$57,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,560 – $82,030+14.4%
48Wellhead Pumpers$79,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,530 – $98,570+14.1%
49Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$45,690
No formal educational credential
$34,940 – $59,020+13.5%
50First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$90,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,990 – $139,570+13.4%

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	vs. national
1	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$454,550	$136,980 – $564,890	+70.9%
2	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,380	$50,440 – $123,880	+57.4%
3	Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports OfficialsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,920	$26,900 – $91,040	+57.0%
4	Surgeons, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$604,890	$231,280 – $680,960	+46.1%
5	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$90,890	$58,280 – $103,150	+42.3%
6	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,580	$77,760 – $111,240	+39.3%
7	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$63,050	$58,190 – $76,120	+34.6%
8	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$98,700	$62,480 – $133,840	+33.2%
9	Miscellaneous Construction and Related WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,450	$46,850 – $105,180	+33.1%
10	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$338,400	$190,430 – $379,100	+31.9%
11	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,120	$57,410 – $99,840	+30.8%
12	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$220,660	$138,570 – $308,040	+29.1%
13	Roustabouts, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$60,480	$38,850 – $78,290	+28.8%
14	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,940	$51,640 – $91,750	+28.7%
15	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,160	$35,710 – $89,270	+28.3%
16	Graders and Sorters, Agricultural ProductsNo formal educational credential	$45,590	$36,720 – $53,970	+27.6%
17	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$48,600	$34,890 – $68,640	+25.8%
18	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,460	$37,460 – $76,010	+25.7%
19	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,600	$44,950 – $71,120	+25.7%
20	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,890	$65,210 – $169,480	+24.3%
21	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$47,250	$31,250 – $47,250	+23.4%
22	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$58,720	$37,460 – $74,570	+22.8%
23	Derrick Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$71,850	$63,380 – $80,040	+22.6%
24	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,490	$46,610 – $94,060	+22.1%
25	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,890	$50,200 – $96,790	+21.8%
26	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,160	$20,930 – $70,130	+21.7%
27	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,970	$42,670 – $74,100	+21.6%
28	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,630	$47,400 – $78,510	+20.6%
29	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,770	$43,680 – $72,710	+20.2%
30	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,160	$104,300 – $134,280	+19.7%
31	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$73,610	$48,630 – $98,370	+19.4%
32	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,250	$46,530 – $72,660	+18.9%
33	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,200	$38,520 – $81,340	+18.7%
34	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$59,000	$41,690 – $71,330	+18.7%
35	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,170	$30,940 – $60,980	+18.2%
36	Emergency Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$392,890	$208,740 – $650,950	+17.1%
37	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,030	$52,000 – $101,830	+16.1%
38	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$68,630	$43,270 – $86,630	+15.6%
39	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$116,130	$69,520 – $148,320	+15.5%
40	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$73,570	$43,680 – $104,290	+15.3%
41	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,000	$46,660 – $83,290	+15.3%
42	Agricultural Equipment OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$48,080	$39,020 – $60,820	+15.2%
43	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,390	$41,960 – $75,830	+15.1%
44	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,590	$35,900 – $62,850	+15.0%
45	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$280,100	$181,130 – $346,400	+14.7%
46	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,220	$46,770 – $161,130	+14.4%
47	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,580	$38,560 – $82,030	+14.4%
48	Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,820	$61,530 – $98,570	+14.1%
49	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$45,690	$34,940 – $59,020	+13.5%
50	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,600	$59,990 – $139,570	+13.4%

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 pay the biggest premium in North Dakota

More for North Dakota

Metro areas in North Dakota

By field in North Dakota

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state