Physician Assistant Salary in North Dakota: $138,175 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across North Dakota's 8 metropolitan areas, the average median physician assistant pay sits at $138,175/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1071. Because North Dakota sits at BEA RPP 92.0 (8% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $150,190 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Fargo ($136,610), Minot ($134,090), Grand Forks ($133,450).

In 2026, the average median salary for physician assistants in North Dakota is projected to be $138,175, which is slightly lower than the national median of $140,391, reflecting a difference of -1.6%. Salaries vary across the state, with Fargo offering the highest average salary at $141,145, while Mandan presents the lowest at $120,716, creating a salary gap of $20,429. This disparity can be attributed to factors such as demand for healthcare services, local cost of living, and differences in healthcare facility sizes and types in these locations. North Dakota's licensing requirements for physician assistants are similar to those in other states, with a focus on maintaining high standards of practice. The state's scope of practice laws allow physician assistants considerable autonomy, contributing to their growing role in healthcare delivery. The demand for PAs is being motivated by an increasing population and an emphasis on accessible healthcare, which is further driven by a projected annual growth rate of 3.32% in the job market. With a total of 457 employed physician assistants, the outlook for this profession in North Dakota appears stable, offering opportunities across various metropolitan areas like Fargo, Minot, Grand Forks, and Bismarck, all of which show promising salary projections reflecting the evolving healthcare landscape.
North Dakota Physician Assistant Salary Range
Overall salary range in North Dakota: $55,059 (lowest entry-level) to $206,681 (highest top earner)
North Dakota vs National Average
North Dakota physician assistants earn 1.58% less than the national median ($-2,216/year difference).
North Dakota Physician Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)
Physician Assistant salaries in North Dakota range from $77,980 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $193,419 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $138,175. The North Dakota median is $2,216 below the US national median of $140,391. The average hourly rate is $66.43/hr. Approximately 457 physician assistants are employed across 8 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$102,000
2025 BLS Actual
$133,735
2026 Current Est.
$138,175
2019–2027 Growth
+40.0%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in North Dakota (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $102,000 | Actual |
| 2020 | $116,350 | Actual |
| 2021 | $123,530 | Actual |
| 2022 | $125,240 | Actual |
| 2023 | $127,670 | Actual |
| 2024 | $124,620 | Actual |
| 2025 | $133,735 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $138,175 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $142,763 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the North Dakota metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 31.1% from $102,000 (2019) to $133,735 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $142,763 by 2027 — a total increase of $40,763 (39.96%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the North Dakota metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.32% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in North Dakota
Lowest Paying Cities in North Dakota
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Mandan | $120,716 |
| Williston | $123,246 |
| Dickinson | $126,293 |
| West Fargo | $126,934 |
| Bismarck | $133,954 |
Best Value Cities for Physician Assistants in North Dakota
When adjusted for local cost of living, these North Dakota cities offer the most purchasing power for physician assistants.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minot | $138,542 | 87.028 | $159,192 |
| Grand Forks | $137,881 | 86.663 | $159,100 |
| Fargo | $141,145 | 90.871 | $155,325 |
| Bismarck | $133,954 | 91.024 | $147,163 |
| West Fargo | $126,934 | 92 | $137,972 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in North Dakota
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $77,980 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $138,175 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $193,419 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across North Dakota metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 8 Cities in North Dakota
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo | $141,145 |
| 2 | Minot | $138,542 |
| 3 | Grand Forks | $137,881 |
| 4 | Bismarck | $133,954 |
| 5 | West Fargo | $126,934 |
| 6 | Dickinson | $126,293 |
| 7 | Williston | $123,246 |
| 8 | Mandan | $120,716 |
More North Dakota Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore physician assistant hourly pay in North Dakota cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced physician assistants.
Explore More Physician Assistant Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physician assistants make in North Dakota in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for physician assistants in North Dakota?
How does North Dakota physician assistant pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level physician assistant salary in North Dakota?
How many physician assistants are employed in North Dakota?
Which North Dakota city offers the best value for physician assistants?
Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C
Career Analyst
Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 physician assistant compensation across North Dakota. State averages are employment-weighted across 8 metro areas — larger metro areas with more physician assistantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov