Quick answer:Accountants and Auditors in North Dakota earn a median $75,730 per year, below the national median of $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 4,430 of them. Licensing runs through your state board of accountancy.
Accounting Pay and Employment in North Dakota at a Glance
Metric
North Dakota
National
Source
Median annual wage
$75,730
$83,680
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$49,330
$56,020
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$60,960
$67,020
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$95,780
$109,810
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$124,960
$144,090
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
4,430
1,449,500
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.11
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
4.6%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How North Dakota Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The North Dakota median of $75,730 sits below the national median of $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.11 puts North Dakota slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Accounting employment follows the local concentration of corporate headquarters, public accounting firms and government offices.
Accountants and Auditors Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), accountants and auditors wages in North Dakota vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Fargo
1,580
$76,420
$80,870
$49,590
$126,000
Bismarck
780
$76,910
$79,880
$49,600
$109,630
Grand Forks
440
$74,740
$78,800
$50,720
$124,960
Minot
310
$73,510
$77,590
$48,020
$107,280
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Accounting work does not require a license, but the CPA credential does: it is issued by a state board of accountancy, and the Uniform CPA Examination is administered through AICPA and NASBA. The education requirement commonly exceeds what a bachelor’s degree alone provides, and the exact rule is set by each state board and has been changing. Business programs may be accredited by AACSB, ACBSP or IACBE.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state board of accountancy that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
How much do accountants and auditors make in North Dakota?
The median annual wage for accountants and auditors in North Dakota is $75,730, below the national median of $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $60,960 at the 25th percentile to $95,780 at the 75th.
How many accountants and auditors work in North Dakota?
North Dakota holds about 4,430 accountant jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 1,449,500, and BLS projects about 124,200 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a accountant in North Dakota?
Accounting work does not require a license, but the CPA credential does: it is issued by a state board of accountancy, and the Uniform CPA Examination is administered through AICPA and NASBA. The education requirement commonly exceeds what a bachelor's degree alone provides, and the exact rule is set by each state board and has been changing. Business programs may be accredited by AACSB, ACBSP or IACBE. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state board of accountancy before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a accounting degree online while working in North Dakota?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of accountancy.
What is the highest-paying area of North Dakota for accountants and auditors?
Among North Dakota metro areas with published data, Bismarck reports the highest median at $76,910 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is North Dakota a good state for accountants and auditors?
On pay, the state median of $75,730 sits below the national $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.11 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
