Registered Nurses Salary in North Dakota
In North Dakota, registered nurses earn a median $80,730 a year, well below the national median of $97,550 (−17%); the state ranks 43rd of 51 states by median. Registered Nurses earn 54% more than the median across all occupations in North Dakota ($52,480). Among neighbouring states, Minnesota and Montana pay more (up to $101,510 in Minnesota) and South Dakota pays less (down to $78,060 in South Dakota). North Dakota employs 11,340 registered nurses, 26.4 per 1,000 jobs, the 46th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.21 means the occupation is more concentrated 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 | $31.50 | $33.47 | $38.81 | $44.75 | $49.75 | $40.19 | 11,340 | 26.40 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $65,520 | $69,620 | $80,730 | $93,080 | $103,480 | $83,600 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $33.14 | $38.62 | $46.90 | $54.02 | $66.09 | $48.76 | 3,379,720 | – | – |
| Annual | $68,940 | $80,330 | $97,550 | $112,350 | $137,470 | $101,420 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 43rd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 46th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.21
- Jobs per 1,000
- 26.40
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 registered nurses, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $39.48 | $82,120 | $69,620 | $103,480 | 4,790 | 32.23 | 1.48 |
| Bismarck, ND | $39.00 | $81,120 | $67,120 | $102,720 | 2,400 | 33.74 | 1.55 |
| Minot, ND | $38.70 | $80,490 | $64,990 | $95,290 | 620 | 18.61 | 0.86 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $38.02 | $79,070 | $66,380 | $97,850 | 1,280 | 24.66 | 1.13 |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $39.93 | $83,050 | $63,510 | $103,560 | 1,300 | 20.43 | 0.94 |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $38.76 | $80,630 | $61,700 | $103,670 | 1,210 | 13.86 | 0.64 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $38.81 | $80,730 | 11,340 | 1.21 |
| Minnesota | $48.80 | $101,510 | 70,110 | 1.09 |
| Montana | $41.00 | $85,280 | 10,950 | 0.99 |
| South Dakota | $37.53 | $78,060 | 14,710 | 1.48 |
See the national page for Registered Nurses (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.