How Much Does an RN Make in Bismarck, ND in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Bismarck, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Dakota.
BLS OES May 2025 · Bismarck metro area
A typical RN in Bismarck, North Dakota earns $39.00 per hour, or $81,120 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,760 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $67,120, and the top 10% of earners make over $102,720.
That pay is right at the North Dakota figure of $80,730 and 17% below the national figure of $97,550. Bismarck ranks 2nd of 4 metro areas in North Dakota for RN pay. About 2,400 RNs work in the Bismarck area.
RN pay in Bismarck at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.00 an hour, or $81,120 a year.
- That is right at the North Dakota figure, ranking 2nd of 4 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $67,120; the top 10% make over $102,720.
- Typical pay rose +42% from 2015 to 2025, against +39% for North Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Bismarck?
Pay in Bismarck runs from entry-level positions at around $32.27 an hour to more than $49.39 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Dakota and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Bismarck
| Career stage | Bismarck | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $67,120$32.27 an hour | $65,520$31.50 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $69,400$33.36 an hour | $69,620$33.47 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $81,120$39.00 an hour | $80,730$38.81 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $83,420$40.11 an hour | $93,080$44.75 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $102,720$49.39 an hour | $103,480$49.75 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Bismarck area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Bismarck
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Bismarck area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Bismarck was $57,070 a year. By 2025 it had reached $81,120, a change of +42%, compared with +39% for North Dakota over the same years.
How Bismarck compares with other North Dakota cities
Fargo pays RNs the most in North Dakota at $82,120 a year, $1,000 more than Bismarck. The lowest-paying area in the state is Grand Forks at $79,070.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bismarck | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo | $82,120 | $39.48 | +1% | 4,790 |
| 2 | Bismarck | $81,120 | $39.00 | this city | 2,400 |
| 3 | Minot | $80,490 | $38.70 | -1% | 620 |
| 4 | Grand Forks | $79,070 | $38.02 | -3% | 1,280 |
Every metro area in North Dakota with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Dakota typical pay $80,730
Is Bismarck a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Bismarck earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $81,120 a year, 17% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Bismarck area, about 34 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Bismarck, ND?
- A typical RN in Bismarck earns $81,120 a year, or $39.00 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $67,120 and the top 10% earn over $102,720.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Bismarck?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Bismarck is $39.00. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.27, and the top 10% earn over $49.39 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Bismarck?
- Entry-level RN positions in Bismarck typically offer around $32.27 an hour, or $67,120 a year.
- Is RN pay in Bismarck higher than in the rest of North Dakota?
- Bismarck pay is right at the North Dakota figure of $80,730 a year, ranking 2nd of 4 metro areas in the state. Fargo pays the most in North Dakota at $82,120.