Is North Dakota a good state for your salary to go far?

North Dakota ranks #2 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 112.2 across 366 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 89.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in North Dakota?

North Dakota's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 89.0, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / North Dakota

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in North Dakota

North Dakota ranks #2 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 112.2, base = 100). Cost of living 89.0 (US = 100); top income tax 2.50%.

Does a salary go further in North Dakota? (cost of living + state tax)

In North Dakota, the cost of living is 89.0 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 112.2 across 366 occupations, ranking it #2 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

North Dakota ranks #2 of 51 states. Mean across 366 occupations; 100 = the average state, 112.2 means pay goes 12.2% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

112.2

Real pay by occupation in North Dakota (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Physicians, All Other	$454,550	$501,189	177.8
Crossing Guards and Flaggers	$60,230	$67,705	175.9
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining	$90,380	$101,008	168.2
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers	$90,890	$101,570	151.0
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door	$103,580	$115,557	150.1
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	$98,700	$110,178	146.9
Rehabilitation Counselors	$63,050	$70,875	146.5
Skincare Specialists	$58,160	$65,378	141.2
Brickmasons and Blockmasons	$79,940	$89,501	138.9
Massage Therapists	$74,140	$83,108	138.5
Audiologists	$118,750	$132,277	137.4
Chefs and Head Cooks	$74,740	$83,769	135.6
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers	$58,720	$66,008	135.6
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars	$81,170	$90,856	135.0
Power Plant Operators	$122,160	$136,035	134.9
Residential Advisors	$48,590	$54,621	134.5
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers	$60,160	$67,627	134.3
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers	$47,250	$53,114	134.2
Medical Equipment Repairers	$73,610	$82,524	134.2
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other	$63,490	$71,370	134.1
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary	$97,110	$108,425	133.7
Highway Maintenance Workers	$60,630	$68,155	133.3
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	$74,490	$83,494	133.1
Labor Relations Specialists	$101,220	$112,955	132.9
Parts Salespersons	$48,600	$54,632	132.6
Dental Assistants	$57,770	$64,940	132.3
Structural Iron and Steel Workers	$82,120	$91,903	131.9
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors	$59,000	$66,323	131.6
Community Health Workers	$59,610	$67,008	131.0
Data Entry Keyers	$48,300	$54,295	130.1
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	$68,630	$77,035	129.8
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$110,050	$122,688	129.8
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other	$54,200	$60,927	129.3
Office Clerks, General	$50,160	$56,386	129.0
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	$69,350	$77,828	128.5
Crane and Tower Operators	$82,890	$92,752	128.4
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary	$73,570	$82,480	128.3
School Bus Monitors	$38,480	$43,256	126.7
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines	$76,030	$85,191	126.6
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	$39,440	$44,335	126.5

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 366 BLS publishes for North Dakota. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (89.0, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In North Dakota, a $85,000 salary is worth about $93,161 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $2,125 (≈ top marginal 2.50% (upper bound)) · take-home $82,875 · BEA cost of living 89.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $2,791 gain over North Dakota.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

North Dakota real pay — FAQ

Is North Dakota a good state for your salary to go far?: North Dakota ranks #2 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 112.2 across 366 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 89.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in North Dakota?: North Dakota's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 89.0, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for North Dakota is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.