North Dakota Minimum Wage 2026
North Dakota's minimum wage of $7.25 in 2026 is below average in the United States, and it is the same as than the base federal minimum wage of $7.25 still used in 20 states.
Federal 
North Dakota Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the weekly minimum wage in North Dakota is $290. For full-time employees working 52 weeks per year, the annual minimum wage in North Dakota is $15.1K.
Based on $7.25/hr minimum
Based on $7.25/hr minimum
The minimum wage rate of North Dakota and its neighboring states ranges from $7.25 to $11.85, with an average of $9.72. North Dakota, at $7.25, has the lowest hourly minimum wage within this group of states. South Dakota ($11.85), Minnesota ($11.41), and Montana ($10.85) all have higher hourly rates than North Dakota. Wyoming shares the same $7.25 hourly rate as North Dakota.
North Dakota While the general minimum wage is $7.25 per hour in North Dakota, there is one exception where workers may legally receive less than this amount:
Employees who earn at least $30 in tips per month have a minimum wage of $4.86 per hour.
North Dakota's cost of living index for 2025 is 91.4, which places it as the 41st most expensive state to live in the United States.
National 100
North Dakota 91.4
Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the real wage in North Dakota, adjusted for the state’s cost of living index of 91.4, is approximately $7.93 per hour. This means that while the nominal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, the purchasing power of those earnings is higher due to North Dakota's lower cost of living expenses. For full-time employees, the real weekly earnings amount to roughly $317.29, translating to an annual purchasing power of $16,498.91 when working 52 weeks per year.
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According to the most recent data, the median household income in the United States has seen a significant increase in 2023.
North Dakota’s minimum wage is set at the federal level of $7.25 per hour, as the state does not maintain its own separate minimum wage law. Unlike states with scheduled increases or index-based adjustments, North Dakota’s wage floor only changes if federal law is updated. The state does not apply different statewide wage tiers or automatic inflation-linked increases.
