State profile · NCES F-33 FY2022
Teacher Salary in North Dakota
According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available across 160 public school districts in North Dakota.
- $77,606
- Est. state avg salary
- -9.5%
- vs national
- #28
- National rank
- 160
- Districts
North Dakota's estimated average teacher salary is $77,606, below the national average of $85,759, ranking #28 of 51 states and territories, across 160 public school districts (NCES CCD F-33, FY2022).
- middle third nationally (#28 of 51)
- $65,751 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- -9.5% vs the national average
- +6.0% since FY2019
- #20 of 51 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 88.7)
What does the NCES F-33 data show for North Dakota?
North Dakota reports 160 public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data FY2022 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, with an average teacher salary of $77,606. That places the state in the middle third of US teacher-pay rankings - #28 of 51, below the national average of $85,759 (-9.5%). The state's public schools serve 116,529 students across these districts. Most district figures divide total instructional spending by the district's REPORTED teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey); a small number of large consolidated districts that report staffing only at a sub-district level fall back to an estimated ratio instead, since total instructional spending also includes aides and assistants, both figures run somewhat above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, treat this as a relative cross-district comparison, not an exact paycheck, and see our methodology for the formula, its data source per district, and its limits.
Among enrolling districts, pay varies widely: Tioga 15 reports the highest estimated average salary at $101,611, while Minto 20 sits at the lower end at $35,860 - a spread of $65,751 between top and bottom reporting districts. Licensing rules, state aid formulas, collective bargaining density, and local tax bases all drive this intra-state variation. Urban and suburban districts with larger tax bases typically lead, while rural districts often lag despite lower cost of living.
Teacher compensation here reflects both state policy choices, the statutory minimum salary schedule, pension funding levels, licensure reciprocity, and the funding formula that determines how much state aid each district receives per pupil. A #28 national rank signals where North Dakota sits in the competition for teachers against neighboring states; teacher shortage areas typically correlate with lower pay rank. Figures below are per-district averages derived from the F-33 instructional salary expenditure field (Z33) divided by each district's reported teacher FTE (or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure), a district-level aggregate, not individual salary records.
Purchasing-power-adjusted rank
North Dakota's nominal average teacher salary ranks #28 of 51 states and territories. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2022 Regional Price Parity (88.7, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $87,490, ranking #20 of 51 , 8 places higher than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download.
North Dakota's estimated average teacher salary, FY2019-FY2022
Highest-paying districts in North Dakota
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
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$101,611 Est. avg salary
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$100,806 Est. avg salary
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$99,775 Est. avg salary
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$93,324 Est. avg salary
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$92,474 Est. avg salary
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$92,186 Est. avg salary
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$89,627 Est. avg salary
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$88,478 Est. avg salary
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$87,530 Est. avg salary
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$87,262 Est. avg salary
What this shows Tioga 15 leads North Dakota on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.
Top 3 districts
Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment | Per-Pupil Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tioga 15 | $101,611 | 481 | $19,875 |
| Belcourt 7 | $100,806 | 1,536 | $24,385 |
| Minot 1 | $99,775 | 7,733 | $16,919 |
| Wishek 19 | $93,324 | 225 | $19,858 |
| Bismarck 1 | $92,474 | 13,755 | $17,673 |
| Nesson 2 | $92,186 | 412 | $19,728 |
| Mandan 1 | $89,627 | 4,272 | $19,056 |
| Fargo 1 | $88,478 | 11,324 | $18,390 |
| Divide County 1 | $87,530 | 382 | $22,178 |
| Stanley 2 | $87,262 | 750 | $16,399 |
| Dickinson 1 | $86,309 | 3,878 | $16,051 |
| Warwick 29 | $85,873 | 221 | $33,959 |
| Grand Forks 1 | $83,620 | 7,522 | $16,822 |
| New England 9 | $83,077 | 297 | $25,357 |
| Mckenzie Co 1 | $83,063 | 1,792 | $26,609 |
| Valley City 2 | $82,351 | 1,048 | $15,018 |
| Eight Mile 6 | $82,057 | 327 | $17,679 |
| Minnewaukan 5 | $79,427 | 295 | $19,471 |
| Napoleon 2 | $79,158 | 228 | $18,083 |
| Wahpeton 37 | $77,631 | 1,215 | $17,112 |
| Dunseith 1 | $76,945 | 590 | $28,056 |
| Mt Pleasant 4 | $76,609 | 260 | $19,331 |
| Killdeer 16 | $75,181 | 618 | $54,494 |
| St John 3 | $75,174 | 437 | $23,945 |
| Jamestown 1 | $72,759 | 2,128 | $15,869 |
| Devils Lake 1 | $72,544 | 1,702 | $15,668 |
| New Town 1 | $72,354 | 955 | $31,785 |
| Solen 3 | $70,909 | 227 | $20,608 |
| Ft Totten 30 | $70,520 | 206 | $23,267 |
| Garrison 51 | $69,478 | 380 | $19,692 |
| South Prairie 70 | $68,333 | 519 | $15,098 |
| Belfield 13 | $68,135 | 250 | $17,588 |
| Beulah 27 | $67,972 | 748 | $18,116 |
| United 7 | $67,771 | 700 | $14,869 |
| Powers Lake 27 | $67,767 | 212 | $21,401 |
| Northern Cass 97 | $67,047 | 687 | $18,691 |
| Williston Basin 7 | $66,820 | 5,139 | $15,039 |
| North Star 10 | $66,641 | 301 | $15,718 |
| Northwood 129 | $66,428 | 334 | $16,500 |
| Velva 1 | $66,109 | 451 | $17,503 |
| Bottineau 1 | $65,554 | 668 | $18,373 |
| West Fargo 6 | $65,347 | 12,236 | $17,900 |
| Kidder County 1 | $65,247 | 380 | $15,861 |
| Lewis and Clark 161 | $64,768 | 434 | $20,371 |
| Center-stanton 1 | $64,599 | 256 | $18,066 |
| South Heart 9 | $64,595 | 411 | $14,769 |
| Enderlin Area 24 | $64,583 | 305 | $20,315 |
| Mohall-lansford-sherwood 1 | $64,378 | 313 | $18,914 |
| Rugby 5 | $64,098 | 615 | $17,943 |
| Hankinson 8 | $64,042 | 241 | $20,838 |
| Dakota Prairie 1 | $63,833 | 295 | $20,854 |
| Nedrose 4 | $63,498 | 611 | $14,321 |
| Hazen 3 | $63,372 | 575 | $14,391 |
| Kenmare 28 | $63,000 | 323 | $20,464 |
| Carrington 49 | $62,844 | 566 | $15,122 |
| Edgeley 3 | $62,820 | 256 | $16,293 |
| North Border 100 | $62,759 | 335 | $20,904 |
| Langdon Area 23 | $62,513 | 386 | $16,000 |
| Harvey 38 | $62,147 | 364 | $17,566 |
| Richardton-taylor 34 | $61,892 | 335 | $18,290 |
| Richland 44 | $61,356 | 275 | $17,695 |
| Parshall 3 | $60,966 | 288 | $20,503 |
| Bowman Co 1 | $60,959 | 521 | $16,338 |
| Lisbon 19 | $60,728 | 616 | $15,612 |
| Kindred 2 | $60,681 | 858 | $16,695 |
| Washburn 4 | $59,813 | 344 | $15,959 |
| Medina 3 | $59,746 | 209 | $17,100 |
| Tgu 60 | $59,256 | 347 | $19,893 |
| New Salem-almont 49 | $59,086 | 358 | $16,740 |
| Beach 3 | $59,024 | 269 | $22,279 |
| Central Cass 17 | $58,709 | 1,003 | $15,107 |
| Linton 36 | $58,528 | 241 | $20,054 |
| Alexander 2 | $58,367 | 283 | $23,117 |
| Thompson 61 | $57,796 | 632 | $20,217 |
| Glenburn 26 | $57,650 | 263 | $18,806 |
| Griggs County Central 18 | $57,491 | 264 | $19,189 |
| Cavalier 6 | $57,324 | 412 | $15,502 |
| May-port Cg 14 | $57,171 | 503 | $14,877 |
| Surrey 41 | $56,658 | 435 | $13,467 |
| Hillsboro 9 | $56,440 | 515 | $14,816 |
| Central Valley 3 | $56,274 | 215 | $15,572 |
| Larimore 44 | $55,681 | 395 | $16,035 |
| Park River Area 8 | $54,865 | 474 | $15,093 |
| Underwood 8 | $54,652 | 232 | $18,043 |
| Wyndmere 42 | $53,737 | 258 | $16,682 |
| Wilton 1 | $53,577 | 273 | $19,297 |
| Oakes 41 | $52,648 | 511 | $15,292 |
| Flasher 39 | $52,455 | 263 | $17,091 |
| Barnes County North 7 | $52,138 | 242 | $18,182 |
| Maple Valley 4 | $51,702 | 237 | $19,139 |
| Lamoure 8 | $51,700 | 276 | $18,743 |
| Ellendale 40 | $50,095 | 298 | $17,282 |
| Grafton 18 | $47,423 | 966 | $15,369 |
| Mott-regent 1 | $46,629 | 235 | $18,370 |
| Hettinger 13 | $42,606 | 286 | $24,794 |
| New Rockford-sheyenne 2 | $42,215 | 347 | $15,398 |
| Milnor 2 | $38,783 | 210 | $20,357 |
| Minto 20 | $35,860 | 305 | $17,872 |
Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.
Lowest-Paying Districts in North Dakota
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Minto 20 | $35,860 | 305 |
| Milnor 2 | $38,783 | 210 |
| New Rockford-sheyenne 2 | $42,215 | 347 |
| Hettinger 13 | $42,606 | 286 |
| Mott-regent 1 | $46,629 | 235 |
| Grafton 18 | $47,423 | 966 |
| Ellendale 40 | $50,095 | 298 |
| Lamoure 8 | $51,700 | 276 |
| Maple Valley 4 | $51,702 | 237 |
| Barnes County North 7 | $52,138 | 242 |
Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.
Compare Nearby-Ranked States
Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2022. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.
North Dakota teacher salary FAQ
What is the average teacher salary in North Dakota?
Across North Dakota's 160 public school districts, the average teacher salary is $77,606 (NCES CCD F-33 finance data divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2022). This figure is derived from total instructional spending and runs above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, read it as a relative comparison.
Which North Dakota school district pays teachers the most?
Tioga 15 reports the highest average teacher salary in North Dakota at $101,611, while Minto 20 sits at the lower end at $35,860.
How does North Dakota teacher pay compare to the national average?
North Dakota's average of $77,606 is below the national average of $85,759 (-9.5%), ranking #28 of 51 US states and territories.
How many school districts are in North Dakota?
North Dakota has 160 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 116,529 students.
Can teachers earn $100,000 in North Dakota?
2 of 98 North Dakota districts with reliable data report an estimated average teacher salary of $100,000 or more, led by Tioga 15 at $101,611. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.
How does North Dakota rank after adjusting for cost of living?
Adjusted by the BEA's 2022 Regional Price Parity (88.7, US=100), North Dakota's purchasing-power-adjusted estimated teacher salary is $87,490, ranking #20 of 51 states and territories, higher than its #28 nominal-salary rank. This is a relative state-level price-level comparison, not take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.
Related
According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. North Dakota's district figures are aggregated directly from each district's FY2022 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2022.
| Publisher | PlainTeacher |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |