North Dakota Income Statistics
North Dakota Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
North Dakota Around averageWealthier than 80% of states in US
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in North Dakota
- Williams County (123% of U.S. avg)
- Burke County (121% of U.S. avg)
- Mercer County (119% of U.S. avg)
- Sioux County (63% of U.S. avg)
- Benson County (83% of U.S. avg)
- Rolette County (83% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | North Dakota | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,862 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,016 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in North Dakota is about 4% lower than in US. Income has been growing slower in North Dakota (3.3%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 12% of adults in North Dakota earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in North Dakota grew by 70.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,862 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in North Dakota
| Metric | North Dakota | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.506 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,903 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,536 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In North Dakota, it is 0.506, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in North Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $502,845 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in North Dakota has narrowed from about 28% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,511 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | North Dakota | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 22 |
Approximately 11,551 people are unemployed in North Dakota.
The average commute time in North Dakota is 13 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in North Dakota has fallen from 3.4% to 2.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 2.7% in 2017.
North Dakota Wealth Compared With Nearby States
North Dakota is the 5th largest of the 6 states compared here, 784,730 residents against a local median of 1,978,686. The measure that sets North Dakota apart most is unemployment: 2.7%, 24% below the local median of 3.6%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.3%/yr against a local median of 4.3%/yr, 22% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so North Dakota is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The states themselves spread 1.2% on unemployment, so North Dakota sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. North Dakota has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 784,730 | $76,862 #2/6 | 3.3%/yr #5/6 | 2.7% #1/6 | 0.506 #2/6 |
| South Dakota | 907,403 | $75,087 | 4.6%/yr | 2.9% | 0.504 |
| Nebraska | 1,978,686 | $76,615 | 4.3%/yr | 3.0% | 0.515 |
| Minnesota | 5,724,000 | $89,852 | 4.4%/yr | 4.1% | 0.507 |
| Wyoming | 582,314 | $76,390 | 3.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.519 |
| Iowa | 3,204,793 | $75,133 | 4.0%/yr | 3.6% | 0.510 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, North Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in North Dakota.
How Rich Is North Dakota?
North Dakota has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $76,862, about 4% lower than the US average of $80,455.
How has median household income changed in North Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in North Dakota rose 70%, from $45,150 to $76,862. Over the same years, income here outpaced the U.S. as a whole: +70% against +57%.
What was the median household income in North Dakota in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in North Dakota was $76,063, up 3% from $74,150 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in North Dakota in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in North Dakota was $65,545. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $76,862.
How strong is the job market in North Dakota?
Unemployment in North Dakota is only 2.7%, well below the US rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in North Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in North Dakota is 0.506. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in North Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in North Dakota has narrowed from about 28% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,511 since 2009.
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