
Registered Nurses in the state of North Dakota earn an average annual salary of $66,290 per year (or $31.87 per hour) as of May 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 80% of North Dakota RNs earn between $52,550 and $83,770.
On average, RNs in North Dakota earn about 14% less than the national average salary for nurses, at $77,460 (or $37.24 per hour).
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The cost of living in a region can impact what nurses tend to earn working in those areas. With a Cost of Living Index of 97 in Q3 2020, nurses in North Dakota can expect lower prices for food, housing, and transportation compared to other states. So, it’s understandable that their earnings would also be lower than the national average.
State | Avg. RN Salary | Avg. RN Salary (adjusted for COL) |
---|---|---|
North Dakota | $66,290 | $58,457 |
Nationwide | $77,460 | - |

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Average RN Salary In North Dakota Cities
North Dakota RN salaries vary quite a bit across the state, but the highest-paying regions for RNs are in the Fargo area, with average RN salaries at around $68,110. The West North Dakota non-metropolitan area is second at $66,650. RNs located in the East North Dakota non-metropolitan area area can expect to earn about $65,690.
Metro Area | RNs Employed | Avg. RN Salary |
---|---|---|
Bismarck, ND | 2,120 | $62,050 |
Fargo, ND-MN | 4,260 | $68,110 |
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 1,460 | $66,650 |
East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 1,190 | $65,690 |
Average RN salary vs similar healthcare professions in North Dakota
At a $66,290 average annual salary, RNs in North Dakota tend to earn slightly less than some other types of healthcare workers in the state. Across all these professions, “Nurse Practitioners” and “Physical Therapists” workers in North Dakota earn an average salary ranging between $81,630-$110,950 according to the BLS.
Here’s how a sample of these other types of healthcare professions compare to RN salaries in North Dakota:
Profession | # Employed | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
Registered Nurses | 9,750 | $66,290 |
LPNs / LVNs | 2,520 | $46,760 |
Pharmacy Technicians | 890 | $39,770 |
Dental Hygienists | 600 | $72,550 |
Physical Therapist | 640 | $81,630 |
Nurse Practitioners | 520 | $110,950 |
Job outlook for Registered Nurses in North Dakota
About 9,740 RNs reside in the state of North Dakota. These jobs are still projected to increase by about 16.5% from 2018 to 2028 – an increase of almost 1,610 new RNs in the state in the coming years.

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