Accountant salary and cost of hiring in North Dakota
The median accountant in North Dakota earned $75,730 a year in May 2025[1], 9.5% below the US median of $83,680. That puts North Dakota at #42 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $49,330 | $75,730 | $124,960 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in North Dakota earns $60,960–$95,780; the top tenth earns $124,960 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the North Dakota median that makes about $108,186 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in North Dakota
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $99,480 | 780 | |
| Bismarck, ND | $95,740 | 780 | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $98,390 | 1,580 | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $89,900 | 440 | |
| Minot, ND | $91,530 | 310 | |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $82,790 | 670 |
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area pays the most ($77,640) and East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area the least ($66,240): $11,400 a year apart for the same job.
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | +1.1% | |
| Montana | +0.1% | |
| North Dakota | +0.0% | |
| Kentucky | -0.6% | |
| Alabama | -1.1% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in North Dakota?
The median was $75,730 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $60,960 to $95,780.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in North Dakota?
About $108,186 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in North Dakota do accountants earn the most?
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area, with a median of $77,640 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.