SOC 33-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Firefighters — North Dakota
North Dakota · 4 metro areas compared
At $55,080, median pay for Firefighters in North Dakota tracks the national median of $59,280 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $55,080, median pay for Firefighters in North Dakota tracks the national median of $59,280 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,590 and $71,930. The lowest tenth earn under $39,700, while the highest tenth earn more than $77,530.
The area has 820 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.86 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, North Dakota ranks 27th by median wage. Grand Forks leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $68,060. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 341st of 556 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,700 | −33.0% |
| 25th | $47,590 | −19.7% |
| Median (50th) | $55,080 | −7.1% |
| 75th | $71,930 | +21.3% |
| 90th | $77,530 | +30.8% |
| Mean | $57,980 | −2.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks | $68,060 | 180 | |
| 2 | Fargo | $53,130 | 270 | |
| 3 | Minot | $49,060 | 80 | |
| 4 | Bismarck | $47,440 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Dakota run 11.0% below the national average, so the median of $55,080 goes as far as $61,888 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$55,080as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$61,888US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,080 a year, 7.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,700 to $77,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 820 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 27th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Grand Forks, at $68,060.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Firefighters in North Dakota?
The median annual wage is $55,080, or $26.48 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $59,280, so pay in North Dakota is 7.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in North Dakota earns more than $77,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,700 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Grand Forks, at $68,060 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 820 jobs in this occupation in North Dakota. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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