Lawyers Salary in North Dakota
In North Dakota, lawyers earn a median $106,880 a year, well below the national median of $159,670 (−33%); the state ranks 40th of 51 states by median. Lawyers earn 2.0 times the median across all occupations in North Dakota ($52,480). Among neighbouring states, Minnesota pays more (up to $155,140 in Minnesota) and Montana and South Dakota pay less (down to $102,040 in South Dakota). North Dakota employs 1,050 lawyers, 2.44 per 1,000 jobs, the 50th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.50 means it is less common in North Dakota than nationally.
North Dakota vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $33.90 | $44.47 | $51.39 | $66.05 | $93.67 | $61.87 | 1,050 | 2.44 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $70,500 | $92,510 | $106,880 | $137,380 | $194,840 | $128,680 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.67 | $49.51 | $76.76 | $106.43 | $169.04 | $89.35 | 754,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $78,360 | $102,990 | $159,670 | $221,370 | $351,600 | $185,840 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 40th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 50th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.50
- Jobs per 1,000
- 2.44
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of North Dakota's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in North Dakota
4 metropolitan areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas touching North Dakota publish a row for lawyers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot, ND | $54.90 | $114,180 | $71,860 | $197,470 | 70 | 2.01 | 0.41 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $53.41 | $111,090 | $70,180 | $202,750 | 410 | 2.74 | 0.56 |
| Bismarck, ND | $52.41 | $109,010 | $74,230 | $195,080 | 290 | 4.09 | 0.84 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $50.10 | $104,210 | $70,110 | $160,940 | 90 | 1.82 | 0.38 |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $50.59 | $105,220 | $67,080 | $192,970 | 130 | 1.48 | 0.30 |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $50.45 | $104,940 | $64,890 | $177,860 | 100 | 1.54 | 0.32 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $51.39 | $106,880 | 1,050 | 0.50 |
| Minnesota | $74.59 | $155,140 | 12,380 | 0.86 |
| Montana | $49.87 | $103,720 | 2,380 | 0.96 |
| South Dakota | $49.06 | $102,040 | 1,360 | 0.61 |
See the national page for Lawyers (every state ranked) and the North Dakota wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS North Dakota estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.