Elementary School Teacher Salary in North Dakota: $61,318 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across North Dakota's 8 metropolitan areas, the average median elementary school teacher pay sits at $61,318/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 25-2021. Because North Dakota sits at BEA RPP 92.0 (8% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $66,650 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Grand Forks ($61,430), Minot ($61,350), Bismarck ($61,010).
In 2026, elementary school teachers in North Dakota are projected to earn an average median salary of $61,318, which is about 5.1% lower than the national median of $64,597. Salary variation across cities is considerable, with Grand Forks offering the highest average salary of $62,032, while Mandan has the lowest at $55,543, resulting in a salary gap of $6,489. This difference can be attributed to factors such as local cost of living, educational funding, and district-specific budgets. North Dakota has specific licensing requirements that teachers must fulfill, including obtaining a bachelor's degree in education and passing state assessments. The demand for elementary teachers is expected to grow, with an annual compound growth rate of 0.98% projected from 2025 BLS data. This demand is driven by population trends, educational policies, and a focus on early childhood education. In the top five cities for teacher salaries, Minot follows Grand Forks at $61,951, Bismarck at $61,608, Fargo at $60,800, and West Fargo at $58,405. As the job market in North Dakota stabilizes and grows, opportunities for teachers are expected to remain steady, making it a viable option for new educators entering the field.
North Dakota Elementary School Teacher Salary Range
Overall salary range in North Dakota: $43,445 (lowest entry-level) to $90,528 (highest top earner)
North Dakota vs National Average
North Dakota elementary school teachers earn 5.08% less than the national median ($-3,279/year difference).
North Dakota Elementary School Teacher Salary Distribution (2026)
Elementary School Teacher salaries in North Dakota range from $48,225 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $81,764 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $61,318. The North Dakota median is $3,279 below the US national median of $64,597. The average hourly rate is $29.48/hr. Approximately 2,987 elementary school teachers are employed across 8 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$56,706
2025 BLS Actual
$60,723
2026 Current Est.
$61,318
2019–2027 Growth
+9.2%
Salary Trajectory for Elementary School Teachers in North Dakota (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 0.98% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,706 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,719 | Actual |
| 2021 | $57,838 | Actual |
| 2022 | $57,316 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,804 | Actual |
| 2024 | $60,331 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,723 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,318 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $61,919 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the North Dakota metropolitan area, the median elementary school teacher salary grew 7.1% from $56,706 (2019) to $60,723 (2025). At a 0.98% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $61,919 by 2027 — a total increase of $5,213 (9.19%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the North Dakota metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 0.98% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in North Dakota
Lowest Paying Cities in North Dakota
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Mandan | $55,543 |
| Williston | $56,707 |
| Dickinson | $58,109 |
| West Fargo | $58,405 |
| Fargo | $60,800 |
Best Value Cities for Elementary School Teachers in North Dakota
When adjusted for local cost of living, these North Dakota cities offer the most purchasing power for elementary school teachers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | $62,032 | 86.663 | $71,578 |
| Minot | $61,951 | 87.028 | $71,185 |
| Bismarck | $61,608 | 91.024 | $67,683 |
| Fargo | $60,800 | 90.871 | $66,908 |
| West Fargo | $58,405 | 92 | $63,484 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in North Dakota
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $48,225 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $61,318 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $81,764 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across North Dakota metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 8 Cities in North Dakota
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks | $62,032 |
| 2 | Minot | $61,951 |
| 3 | Bismarck | $61,608 |
| 4 | Fargo | $60,800 |
| 5 | West Fargo | $58,405 |
| 6 | Dickinson | $58,109 |
| 7 | Williston | $56,707 |
| 8 | Mandan | $55,543 |
More North Dakota Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore elementary school teacher hourly pay in North Dakota cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced elementary school teachers.
Explore More Elementary School Teacher Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does North Dakota elementary school teacher pay compare to the national average?
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Written by Jordan Lee, M.Ed.
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in elementary education. They focus on curriculum development and teaching methodologies. Their experience includes working in public schools.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 0.98% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 elementary school teacher compensation across North Dakota. State averages are employment-weighted across 8 metro areas — larger metro areas with more elementary school teacherscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.98%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for elementary school teachers (SOC 25-2021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, M.Ed., a licensed elementary school teacher with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov