Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Salary
The median pay for a automotive and watercraft service attendants in North Dakota is $36,740/year ($17.67/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $41,332 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,034/month, about 40.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in North Dakota?
About automotive and watercraft service attendants
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Automotive and watercraft service attendants pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $36K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,034/month, which is 40.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level automotive and watercraft service attendants (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants salary by metro in North Dakota
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $38K | +3% | 140 |
| Bismarck | $37K | +2% | 90 |
| Grand Forks | $28K | -23% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track automotive and watercraft service attendants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a automotive and watercraft service attendant afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 40.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for automotive and watercraft service attendants in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new automotive and watercraft service attendants typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,704/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 61% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is automotive and watercraft service attendant a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $36K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for automotive and watercraft service attendants?
North Dakota pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do automotive and watercraft service attendants make in North Dakota?
The median is $36,740 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,400, and experienced automotive and watercraft service attendants can clear $53,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,570/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 40.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a automotive and watercraft service attendants salary go in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median automotive and watercraft service attendants salary is worth about $41,332 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do automotive and watercraft service attendants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.