Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| North Dakota | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $62,000 | $53,934 | +15% |
| Median hourly wage | $29.81 | $25.93 | +15% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $69,663.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Welder in North Dakota is $62,000, or about $29.81 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Welders is $53,934. North Dakota is +15% above the national median.
Entry-level welders in North Dakota typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 2,590 welder jobs on record and a median salary of $62,000, North Dakota offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, welders rank 260 of the 556 occupations reported in North Dakota — higher than 53% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Power Plant Operators at $122,160, Gas Plant Operators at $96,760, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers at $93,130 — all figures are median annual wages for North Dakota.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. North Dakota levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 94.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, welders rank 260 of the 556 occupations reported in North Dakota — higher than 53% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in North Dakota | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Power Plant Operators | $122,160 | $150 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $96,760 | $770 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $93,130 | $950 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $77,300 | $30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,350 | $1,650 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $75,990 | $40 |
North Dakota levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 94.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 556 occupations in North Dakota.