Salaries in Dickinson, ND

Here’s something you won’t see on a postcard: Dickinson is one of the few places left where a software developer earning $124,587 feels like a local, not a transplant. With a population of just 25,216, this western North Dakota city is punching way above its weight class in specialized pay.

The real story here isn’t just the salary—it’s the purchasing power. Dickinson’s cost of living sits at 93.0, meaning your dollar stretches about 7% further than the national average. Take that Software Developer salary: when you adjust for the local cost of living, its effective value jumps to $133,965. A one-bedroom apartment runs about $837 a month. That’s a bargain, but don’t get too excited—the median household income is $76,964, which is solid but not spectacular. You’re not getting rich quick, but you’re also not drowning in rent.

Who’s actually thriving here? The energy sector still casts a long shadow, with companies like Dickinson-based Thunderbird Resources and the surrounding Bakken oil fields driving demand for engineers, accountants, and skilled trades. Healthcare is another anchor—St. Alexius Medical Center is a major employer, which helps explain why Registered Nurses pull in $84,262. Education pays decently, with teachers making over $62,000. The unemployment rate is a razor-thin 2.0%, so if you’ve got skills, you’ve got options.

Here’s the honest catch: wages in the trades and teaching, while respectable for the area, haven’t fully kept pace with the recent inflation in housing and goods. It’s a great spot for dual-income professionals or those in high-demand fields like tech and healthcare. For everyone else, it’s a stable, affordable place to build a life, but don’t expect your salary to feel like it’s in a coastal city.

Below, we’ll break down exactly what you can expect to earn in Dickinson’s top jobs and how far that money will actually go.