Waiters and Waitresses Salary in North Dakota
Waiters and Waitresses in North Dakota have a median of $30,890 a year, below the national $35,230 (−12%); the state ranks 30th of 51 states by median. That is 41% less than the median across all occupations in North Dakota ($52,480). North Dakota pays more than every neighbouring state: South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana range from $23,370 in Montana to $28,990 in South Dakota. North Dakota employs 5,250 waiters and waitresses, 12.2 per 1,000 jobs, the 48th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.84 is close to the national share.
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 | $8.88 | $10.55 | $14.85 | $21.62 | $29.12 | $17.43 | 5,250 | 12.24 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $18,470 | $21,930 | $30,890 | $44,960 | $60,570 | $36,250 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $8.70 | $13.34 | $16.94 | $22.65 | $31.12 | $19.26 | 2,270,910 | – | – |
| Annual | $18,100 | $27,750 | $35,230 | $47,110 | $64,720 | $40,060 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 30th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 48th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.84
- Jobs per 1,000
- 12.24
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 waiters and waitresses, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $15.53 | $32,310 | $18,590 | $61,320 | 950 | 13.28 | 0.91 |
| Minot, ND | $14.87 | $30,930 | $18,370 | $59,900 | 440 | 13.11 | 0.90 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $14.58 | $30,330 | $18,470 | $59,910 | 2,020 | 13.56 | 0.93 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $13.37 | $27,820 | $18,560 | $58,950 | 820 | 15.68 | 1.07 |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $14.83 | $30,840 | $18,600 | $60,610 | 810 | 9.30 | 0.64 |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $14.35 | $29,850 | $18,530 | $50,550 | 610 | 9.59 | 0.66 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $14.85 | $30,890 | 5,250 | 0.84 |
| Minnesota | $12.25 | $25,470 | 37,630 | 0.87 |
| Montana | $11.23 | $23,370 | 7,200 | 0.96 |
| South Dakota | $13.94 | $28,990 | 7,350 | 1.10 |
See the national page for Waiters and Waitresses (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.