How Much Does a Rad Tech Make in North Dakota in 2026?

A typical Radiologic Technologist in North Dakota earns about $32.59 per hour, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $67,790 per year. Broken down further, it comes to about $5,649 a month and $1,304 a week, both figures calculated from the annual pay.

That pay sits 15% below the national typical pay of $80,110 for Rad Techs, placing North Dakota 44th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia. About 740 Rad Techs work across the state, a modest workforce compared with the 230,490 counted nationwide. The gap in pay often tracks a lower cost of living in North Dakota compared with higher-cost states.

Entry-level Rad Techs in North Dakota typically start around $29.14 an hour, or about $60,600 a year, according to the same May 2025 data. Pay in this range usually reflects positions with limited experience or in smaller facilities. Most technologists see their pay move toward the typical $67,790 figure within a few years as they gain experience and certifications.

Experienced Rad Techs in North Dakota often earn upwards of $45.13 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $93,870 a year. That leaves a spread of $33,270 between entry-level and top pay. The difference usually comes down to years on the job, the clinical setting, and which city a technologist works in.

North Dakota Rad Tech pay has climbed steadily since 2019, when the typical wage stood at $54,980 a year. By 2025, that figure reached $67,790, a gain of $12,810. That's a rise of roughly 23% over six years, with most of the increase coming between 2020 and 2023.

Nationally, Rad Tech pay rose 32% over the comparable decade, a faster climb than North Dakota's. For someone starting out now, that history shows pay has moved upward in recent years, though it dipped slightly in 2024 before recovering. No specific future increase is guaranteed, but the trend has favored technologists entering the field.

Pay runs highest in Grand Forks, where Rad Techs typically earn $72,280 a year (about $34.75 an hour), roughly 7% above the state figure. Fargo follows at $66,380 a year, still solidly ahead of the lowest-paying city. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Bismarck pays the least among the three cities tracked, with Rad Techs typically earning $65,330 a year, or $31.41 an hour, a spread of $6,950 between the highest and lowest local figures. Fargo carries the largest Rad Tech workforce at 280 workers, even though its pay of $66,380 falls in the middle. Cities with higher pay generally carry a higher cost of living, which tends to offset some of the difference.

North Dakota's Rad Tech pay trails most of its neighbors. Minnesota pays 23% more, with a typical wage of $83,400 a year, and Montana runs 14% higher at $77,070. South Dakota is the exception, paying about 4% less at $65,240. A radiography license earned in North Dakota can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which makes it easier to compare offers across the border.

Rad Techs in North Dakota typically earn $67,790 a year, up from $54,980 in 2019. That steady rise has kept pace with, though not matched, national gains. Anyone weighing a move or a first job in the field should check North Dakota's licensing and registry requirements for radiologic technologists, and compare local figures for Grand Forks, Fargo, and Bismarck before deciding where to work.