Security Guards Salary in North Dakota
The median for security guards in North Dakota is $39,310 a year, somewhat above the national $38,020 (+3%); the state ranks 20th of 51 states by median. That is 25% less than the median across all occupations in North Dakota ($52,480). Among neighbouring states, Minnesota pays more (up to $43,380 in Minnesota) and Montana and South Dakota pay less (down to $37,150 in South Dakota). North Dakota employs 1,310 security guards, 3.04 per 1,000 jobs, the 49th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.37 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 | $14.98 | $16.81 | $18.90 | $21.90 | $30.96 | $20.74 | 1,310 | 3.04 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $31,150 | $34,960 | $39,310 | $45,550 | $64,390 | $43,150 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.52 | $16.93 | $18.28 | $22.21 | $28.29 | $20.42 | 1,283,470 | – | – |
| Annual | $30,210 | $35,210 | $38,020 | $46,200 | $58,840 | $42,470 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 20th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 49th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.37
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.04
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 security guards, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $20.07 | $41,750 | $30,580 | $58,670 | 110 | 2.07 | 0.25 |
| Minot, ND | $18.96 | $39,430 | $33,480 | $64,440 | 80 | 2.39 | 0.29 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $18.16 | $37,770 | $31,730 | $64,370 | 350 | 2.35 | 0.28 |
| Bismarck, ND | $17.37 | $36,130 | $30,880 | $52,350 | 380 | 5.38 | 0.65 |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $21.76 | $45,270 | $33,270 | $72,630 | 190 | 2.22 | 0.27 |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $20.94 | $43,560 | $35,010 | $48,960 | 240 | 3.82 | 0.46 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $18.90 | $39,310 | 1,310 | 0.37 |
| Minnesota | $20.86 | $43,380 | 14,440 | 0.59 |
| Montana | $18.50 | $38,480 | 1,610 | 0.38 |
| South Dakota | $17.86 | $37,150 | 1,460 | 0.39 |
See the national page for Security Guards (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.