SOC 23-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Lawyers — Bismarck
Bismarck, ND · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Lawyers in Bismarck, ND is $109,010 per year, substantially below the national median of $159,670 — a gap of 31.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Lawyers in Bismarck, ND is $109,010 per year, substantially below the national median of $159,670 — a gap of 31.7%. Pay ranges from under $74,230 at the tenth percentile to more than $195,080 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $96,560 to $141,080.
Employment stands at 290, or 4.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Minot leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $114,180. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 24th of 296 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,230 | −53.5% |
| 25th | $96,560 | −39.5% |
| Median (50th) | $109,010 | −31.7% |
| 75th | $141,080 | −11.6% |
| 90th | $195,080 | +22.2% |
| Mean | $130,740 | −18.1% |
Other metro areas in North Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minot | $114,180 | 70 | |
| 2 | Fargo | $111,090 | 410 | |
| 3 | Grand Forks | $104,210 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bismarck run 11.0% below the national average, so the median of $109,010 goes as far as $122,483 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 23.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$109,010as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$122,483US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $109,010 a year, 31.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $74,230 to $195,080 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 290 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Minot, at $114,180.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Lawyers in Bismarck, ND?
The median annual wage is $109,010, or $52.41 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 $159,670, so pay in Bismarck, ND is 31.7% 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 Bismarck, ND earns more than $195,080 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $74,230 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 Minot, at $114,180 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 290 jobs in this occupation in Bismarck, ND. 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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