Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in North Dakota
The median payroll specialist in North Dakota earned $60,600 a year in May 2025[1], 4.0% above the US median of $58,260. That puts North Dakota at #15 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $46,880 | $60,600 | $77,530 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in North Dakota earns $53,550–$66,160; the top tenth earns $77,530 or more, 1.7 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 $86,571 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 payroll specialists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $72,000 | 50 | |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $63,960 | 50 | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $69,520 | 130 | |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $63,420 | 40 | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $61,210 | 40 |
Bismarck, ND pays the most ($61,900) and Grand Forks, ND-MN the least ($59,010): $2,890 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | +0.6% | |
| New Jersey | +0.2% | |
| North Dakota | +0.0% | |
| Georgia (US state) | -1.0% | |
| Maryland | -1.4% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in North Dakota?
The median was $60,600 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $53,550 to $66,160.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in North Dakota?
About $86,571 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 payroll specialists earn the most?
Bismarck, ND, with a median of $61,900 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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.