How Much Does an NP Make in North Dakota in 2026?

A typical NP in North Dakota earns about $62.53 per hour, or $130,070 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that comes to roughly $10,839 a month and $2,501 a week. These figures reflect typical pay across the state's NP workforce rather than an entry-level wage or the highest possible earnings. Pay differs by city, practice setting, and years of experience.

That is about 2 percent below the national figure of $132,300, and it places North Dakota 34th among the 51 states and territories tracked. Roughly 1,290 NPs work in North Dakota, compared with 323,040 nationwide, a small workforce set against a pay figure that stays close to the national number. Lower pay in North Dakota tracks its lower cost of living compared with higher-cost states.

Entry-level NP positions in North Dakota typically offer around $49.76 an hour, or about $103,490 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That range covers NPs who are new to practice or working in lower-paying settings. Within a few years, pay for most NPs moves up toward the state's typical figure of $130,070 a year. That climb usually reflects added clinical experience and a move into higher-paying settings or specialties.

Experienced NPs in North Dakota often earn upwards of $65.20 an hour, or roughly $135,620 a year, while the top 10 percent make over $162,020 a year, about $77.90 an hour. That leaves a gap of $58,530 between entry-level and top pay in the state. The gap tends to reflect practice setting, years in the field, and city, since pay in Grand Forks and Bismarck runs slightly higher than in Fargo.

North Dakota NP pay rose from $92,570 in 2015 to $130,070 in 2025, a gain of $37,500. That is a 41 percent increase over the decade, tracked through the state's NP salary figures each year in government wage data. Pay did dip slightly in 2020 and 2021 before climbing again, then rose sharply between 2022 and 2023. By 2025, pay had recovered and moved well past its pre-dip levels.

Nationally, NP pay rose 35 percent over the same ten years, so North Dakota's climb outpaced the national trend by six points. For someone starting an NP career in North Dakota now, this history shows pay has moved up over time, though past gains do not guarantee future ones. Current pay in the state, at $130,070 a year, reflects where that decade of change has landed.

Grand Forks pays NPs the most among North Dakota's metro areas, at $130,990 a year ($62.97 an hour), about 1 percent above the state figure of $130,070. Minot follows closely at $130,820 a year, and Bismarck comes in at $130,140 a year. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just its downtown core.

Fargo is the lowest-paying city among the four, at $130,070 a year, putting the full spread between North Dakota's cities at just $920. Fargo also has the largest NP workforce in the state, with 490 employed there compared with 220 in Bismarck, 190 in Grand Forks, and 60 in Minot. Pay differences this small mostly reflect similar costs of living across North Dakota's cities rather than large gaps in pay scales.

North Dakota's NP pay sits close to its neighbors. Montana pays more, at $137,210 a year, about 5 percent above North Dakota, while Minnesota runs about 2 percent higher at $133,260. South Dakota pays slightly less, at $128,840 a year, about 1 percent below North Dakota. NP licensure earned in one state can often be endorsed or transferred into a neighboring state, which can make comparing pay across state lines useful for NPs weighing a move.

NPs in North Dakota typically earn $130,070 a year, or $62.53 an hour, a figure that has risen 41 percent over the past decade. Pay is close to the national number and varies only slightly by city, from Fargo to Grand Forks. For current requirements, check North Dakota's nursing board licensing page, and for local figures, see the city-specific pages for Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot.