Salaries in Williston, ND

Here’s something you won’t see on a travel brochure: Williston, North Dakota, has a lower unemployment rate than almost any major U.S. city right now—at just 2.0%, the competition for talent is fierce. Yet, it’s still a place where a software developer earning $124k can feel like they’re living in a different economic universe than a teacher making half that.

The secret sauce is the cost of living, which sits at a 93.0 index—about 7% cheaper than the national average. That means a $55,810 average salary here has the real purchasing power of $60,010. For someone in a one-bedroom apartment renting for $837 a month, that’s not just affordable; it’s a chance to actually save money, something that feels increasingly rare elsewhere. The median household income of $84,309 stretches surprisingly far in this town of about 28,000 people.

This place runs on energy and healthcare, not tech. The oil industry’s ripple effects are still the main engine, supporting everyone from engineers to accountants. Large employers like CHI St. Alexius Health and the Williston Basin School District provide stability, but the real money is in the trades and specialized roles. I’m honestly surprised that an accountant here can clear $90,000 in adjusted dollars—it’s a testament to the demand for financial pros who can manage the region’s boom-and-bust cycles.

But here’s the catch: that low COL index can mask a lack of wage growth. While your dollars go further, salaries for many roles haven’t kept pace with the rapid inflation of the last few years, especially in housing. For young professionals or remote workers who can command a software developer’s salary, Williston is a financial home run. For others, it’s a stable, affordable base, but not a path to rapid wealth accumulation.

The breakdown below shows exactly who wins, who gets by, and where the city’s financial reality truly lies.