How Much Does an RN Make in North Dakota in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in North Dakota, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · North Dakota · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical RN in North Dakota earns about $38.81 per hour, or $80,730 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down, that comes to roughly $6,728 a month and $1,552 a week, both calculated from the annual figure. These figures represent the pay midpoint for the state's registered nurses.
That is 17% below the national typical pay of $97,550 a year, placing North Dakota 43rd among the 51 states and Washington, D.C. Roughly 11,340 registered nurses work in the state, giving a sense of scale for these figures. Pay below the national figure often tracks a lower cost of living in the state.
RN pay in North Dakota at a glance
- Registered nurses in North Dakota typically earn $38.81 an hour, or about $80,730 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025).
- North Dakota pay runs 17% below the national figure of $97,550, ranking 43rd out of 51 states.
- Fargo pays the most among North Dakota cities, with RNs there earning $82,120 a year.
- Entry-level RNs typically start around $65,520 a year, while the top 10% earn over $103,480.
- North Dakota RN pay has risen 39% over the past decade, from $57,880 in 2015 to $80,730 in 2025.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in North Dakota?
RN pay by career stage in North Dakota
| Career stage | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $65,520$31.50 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $69,620$33.47 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $80,730$38.81 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $93,080$44.75 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $103,480$49.75 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
RN pay by experience level in North Dakota
Entry-level positions in North Dakota typically offer around $31.50 an hour, or about $65,520 a year, for registered nurses just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the typical figure of $80,730 within the first several years on the job. New graduates in hospital settings often see faster pay increases than those starting in outpatient clinics.
Experienced RNs in North Dakota often earn upwards of $44.75 to $49.75 an hour, with the top 10% making over $103,480 a year. That leaves an entry-to-top spread of $37,960 across a career. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a part in where an individual RN lands within that range.
RN pay growth in North Dakota
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in North Dakota · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
North Dakota RN pay rose from $57,880 in 2015 to $80,730 in 2025, a gain of $22,850 over the decade. That amounts to a 39% increase in typical pay over ten years. The rise was not perfectly steady, dipping slightly in 2022 before climbing again through 2025.
Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same decade, a few points ahead of North Dakota's gain. Pay for registered nurses in the state has moved up steadily overall, though no specific future increase is guaranteed. Someone entering the field now starts from a higher base than nurses did a decade ago.
RN salary by city in North Dakota
Pay runs highest in Fargo, where RNs earn $82,120 a year ($39.48 an hour), about 2% above the state figure of $80,730. Bismarck follows closely at $81,120 a year, and Minot comes in at $80,490. These figures cover each city's full metro area rather than just the city limits.
Grand Forks posts the lowest pay among North Dakota's tracked cities at $79,070 a year ($38.02 an hour), putting the spread between the highest and lowest cities at $3,050. Fargo also carries the largest registered nurse workforce in the state, with 4,790 employed there. Cities with higher pay often carry higher living costs, which can offset some of the difference in take-home value.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs North Dakota | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo | $82,120 | $39.48 | +2% | 4,790 |
| 2 | Bismarck | $81,120 | $39.00 | 0% | 2,400 |
| 3 | Minot | $80,490 | $38.70 | 0% | 620 |
| 4 | Grand Forks | $79,070 | $38.02 | -2% | 1,280 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · North Dakota typical pay $80,730
How North Dakota compares with nearby states
Minnesota pays its RNs $101,510 a year, 26% more than North Dakota, while Montana runs 6% higher at $85,280. South Dakota pays slightly less, at $78,060 a year, about 3% below North Dakota's figure. RN licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which makes comparing pay across a nearby border a practical part of any relocation decision.
| State | Typical pay | Vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $80,730 | baseline |
| Minnesota | $101,510 | +26% |
| Montana | $85,280 | +6% |
| South Dakota | $78,060 | -3% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical RN pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is North Dakota a good state for RNs?
RNs in North Dakota earn less than in most states: typical pay is $80,730 a year, 17% below the national figure, ranking 43rd of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in North Dakota, about 26 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year. Pay trails the national figure here, but demand does not: RNs make up a larger share of North Dakota's workforce than in most states.
Summary
Registered nurses in North Dakota typically earn $80,730 a year, up 39% over the past decade from $57,880 in 2015. For current licensing requirements, check North Dakota's board of nursing or registry page, and compare city-level figures for Fargo, Bismarck, Minot, and Grand Forks before weighing a move within the state.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in North Dakota?
- Registered nurses in North Dakota typically earn $38.81 an hour, or about $80,730 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $6,728 a month or $1,552 a week for a full-time RN working in the state.
- How much does an RN make an hour in North Dakota?
- RNs in North Dakota typically earn $38.81 an hour. Entry-level pay starts around $31.50 an hour, while experienced nurses in the top 10% make over $49.75 an hour, depending on setting and city.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in North Dakota?
- Entry-level RNs in North Dakota typically start around $31.50 an hour, or about $65,520 a year. Pay tends to rise toward the state's typical figure of $80,730 a year within the first several years, as new nurses gain experience and move into higher-paying settings.
- Which city in North Dakota pays RNs the most?
- Fargo pays RNs the most among North Dakota's tracked cities, at $82,120 a year, about 2% above the state figure. Bismarck and Minot follow closely at $81,120 and $80,490 a year. Grand Forks posts the lowest figure among the four, at $79,070 a year.
- Is RN pay in North Dakota higher than the national rate?
- No. RN pay in North Dakota runs about 17% below the national typical figure of $97,550 a year, ranking 43rd among the 51 states. North Dakota's lower pay generally tracks a lower cost of living compared with higher-paying states.