Civil Engineers Salary
Civil Engineers in North Dakota make a median of $98,190 a year, or about $47.21 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $144K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $110,462 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 16.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $98K get you in North Dakota?
About civil engineers
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Civil engineers pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 16.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $144K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers salary by metro in North Dakota
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | $101K | +2% | 170 |
| Minot | $99K | +1% | 70 |
| Bismarck | $98K | +0% | 380 |
| Fargo | $96K | -3% | 510 |
Compare to other states
Track civil engineers 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 civil engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 16.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for civil engineers in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineers typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,797/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is civil engineer a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for civil engineers?
North Dakota pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do civil engineers make in North Dakota?
The median is $98,190 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,290, and experienced civil engineers can clear $143,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,296/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 16.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a civil engineers 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 civil engineers salary is worth about $110,462 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do civil engineers 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.