Cost of hiring in Bismarck, ND
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 15 jobs in Bismarck, with about 1,170 people1. Medians run from $38,710 a year for virtual receptionists to $88,650 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Bismarck
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +28.5% | 30 | |
| Office Manager | +6.9% | 310 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +6.2% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +3.3% | 980 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | +1.8% | 440 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.7% | 190 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +0.1% | 1,170 | |
| Recruiter | +0.1% | 340 | |
| Bookkeeper | -2.7% | 690 | |
| Paralegal | -4.4% | 160 | |
| Accountant | -8.1% | 780 | |
| Project Coordinator | -13.4% | 390 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -14.4% | 200 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.2% | 120 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -20.8% | 230 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $47,580 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $61,394 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Bismarck against the US
Bismarck pays above the US median for 6 of the 15 roles, most of all for data entry specialists (+28.5%) and office managers (+6.9%), and below it for 7, furthest for marketing specialists (-20.8%). For administrative assistants and recruiters it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 15 is +0.1%: overall, pay here is close to the US level. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #3 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #306 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Bismarck has more administrative assistants (19.2% of these jobs here, against 10.9% nationally) and accountants (12.8% against 9.2%), and fewer sales development representatives (3.3% against 8.0%) and medical administrative assistants (3.1% against 6.1%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Austin-Round Rock, TX is nearest, at +0.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | +0.1% | 14 | 4,920 |
| Richmond, VA | +0.1% | 17 | 69,980 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | +0.1% | 17 | 169,360 |
| Bismarck, ND | +0.1% (this area) | 15 | 6,080 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | -0.0% | 17 | 22,320 |
| Anchorage, AK | -0.1% | 17 | 17,830 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Bismarck span $32,170–$126,800, the widest band (3.9×); paralegals the narrowest, $49,750–$77,770. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 15 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, project coordinators and marketing specialists: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($71,050 against a $59,920 median for sales development representatives).
Bismarck against North Dakota
Against North Dakota as a whole, Bismarck pays more for 9 of 15 roles, led by data entry specialists (+10.0%) and office managers (+8.1%), and less for 3, most of all sales development representatives (-9.3%). It has the highest median in North Dakota for office managers, marketing specialists and payroll specialists.
Other areas in North Dakota
By jobs in these roles, Bismarck is #2 of 6 areas in North Dakota. The table shows the other 5.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | 13,470 | 15 |
| West North Dakota (Nonmetro) | 5,310 | 14 |
| East North Dakota (Nonmetro) | 4,140 | 14 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 3,850 | 14 |
| Minot, ND | 2,360 | 12 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Bismarck?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $88,650 a year, about $114,387 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $38,710.
Is hiring in Bismarck cheaper than the US median?
For 7 of the 15 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-20.8%). 6 pay more than the US median, led by data entry specialists (+28.5%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.