NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
June 8, 2000
The average wage in North Dakota rose 4.2 percent, from $21,726 to $22,641, during the 1997-1998 period. This increase was greater than the 1.6-percent rate of inflation, according to the latest Population Bulletin released from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University.
"This is very good news for North Dakotans because it means our buying power has increased," says Richard Rathge, data center director. "Unfortunately, North Dakota salaries lag about 28 percent behind the national average."
For the 1997-1998 period, average wages per job in the United States increased 5 percent, from $29,805 to $31,299. In Minnesota salaries rose 5.8 percent to $31,300, In Montana the increase was 3.1 percent, to $22,425, and $22,168 (5 percent) in South Dakota.
At $38,128, Oliver County had the highest average wage per job in North Dakota in 1998. Mercer County came in second, at $32,775, and Sargent County was third with $29,733. The following North Dakota counties had the lowest average wage per job in 1998: Divide County, $14,142; Logan County, $14,295; and Billings County, $14,658.
The average wage per job in metropolitan areas of North Dakota--Bismarck, Fargo-Moorhead and Grand Forks--was $24,250 in 1998. The average in nonmetropolitan areas was $20,835.
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Source: Richard Rathge (701) 231-8621
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136
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