March 1, 2001

Average Wage In North Dakota Grows Faster than Inflation, Lags Behind Nation

Between 1998 and 1999, average wage per job in North Dakota rose 3.1 percent, from $22,638 to $23,330, according to the latest Population Bulletin released from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University.

Average wage per job grew faster than inflation, which increased by 2.2 percent between 1998 and 1999. "This is very good news for North Dakota because it means not only are our wages increasing but also our purchasing power," said Richard Rathge, director of the center.

Unfortunately, North Dakota salaries lag significantly behind the national average by approximately 29 percent. "However, it is important to put this comparison into context," Rathge said. Wages in metropolitan areas are significantly higher than in non-metro areas. For example, at a national level the wages in metro areas in 1999 averaged $34,394 while the average wages in non-metro areas was $23,903. Nationally, the wage gap between metro and non-metro areas is much larger than in North Dakota. This greatly inflates the national averages. "Thus, if we compared North Dakota’s average wages to the non-metro component of the country, we would be very similar," he said.

Average wages per job in the United States increased 4.4 percent, from $31,325 to $32,711, between 1998 and 1999, while in Minnesota they rose 4.2 percent to $32,652, in Montana 2.8 percent to $23,037, and in South Dakota 4.4 percent to $23,177.

Oliver County had the highest average wage per job in North Dakota in 1999, $38,178. Mercer came second at $33,502 and Sargent County was third at $32,735.

North Dakota counties with the lowest average wage per job in 1999 were Slope with $14,577, Logan with $14,766, and Divide with $14,815.

The average wage per job in metropolitan areas of North Dakota, Bismarck, Fargo-Moorhead, and Grand Forks, was $25,033. The average in non-metropolitan areas was $21,394.

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Source: Richard Rathge, (701) 231-8621, richard_rathge@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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