SOC 51-4041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Machinists — North Dakota
North Dakota · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $61,820 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $58,750.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $61,820 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $58,750. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $49,300 and $74,670. The lowest tenth earn under $47,810, while the highest tenth earn more than $80,030.
The area has 560 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.71 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. North Dakota ranks number 12th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Bismarck records the highest median at $74,090. Of the 556 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 261st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,810 | −18.6% |
| 25th | $49,300 | −16.1% |
| Median (50th) | $61,820 | +5.2% |
| 75th | $74,670 | +27.1% |
| 90th | $80,030 | +36.2% |
| Mean | $63,830 | +8.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bismarck | $74,090 | 70 | |
| 2 | Fargo | $61,820 | 130 | |
| 3 | Grand Forks | $57,890 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Dakota run 11.0% below the national average, so the median of $61,820 goes as far as $69,461 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$69,461US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,820 a year, 5.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,810 to $80,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 560 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bismarck, at $74,090.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Machinists in North Dakota?
The median annual wage is $61,820, or $29.72 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 $58,750, so pay in North Dakota is 5.2% higher. 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 $80,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,810 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 Bismarck, at $74,090 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 560 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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