PA Salary

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).

Physician Assistant Salary in North Dakota - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
North Dakota physician assistant salary overview (2026)
$138,175
Avg Median Salary
$66.43
Avg Hourly Rate
457
Metro Employed
8
Cities

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

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$77,980
avg across 8 cities
Median
$138,175
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$193,419
avg across 8 cities

Overall salary range in North Dakota: $55,059 (lowest entry-level) to $206,681 (highest top earner)

North Dakota vs National Average

North Dakota
$138,175
National Median
$140,391

North Dakota physician assistants earn 1.58% less than the national median ($-2,216/year difference).

North Dakota Physician Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing North Dakota physician assistant salary percentiles: 10th percentile $77,980, 25th $110,744, Median $138,175, 75th $156,837, 90th $193,419. US national median is $140,391.$54.2K$108.3K$162.5K$216.6K$78.0K10thEntry Level$110.7K25thEarly Career$138.2KMedianMid Career$156.8K75thExperienced$193.4K90thTop EarnerUS Median $140.4K

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 (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for physician assistants in North Dakota. Baseline $102,000 in 2025, projected to $142,763 by 2027.$93.8K$108.1K$122.4K$136.6K$150.9K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$102.0K$116.3K$123.5K$125.2K$127.7K$124.6K$133.7K$138.2K$142.8K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$102,000Actual
2020$116,350Actual
2021$123,530Actual
2022$125,240Actual
2023$127,670Actual
2024$124,620Actual
2025$133,735Actual
2026(current)$138,175Estimated
2027$142,763Projected

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 (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the North Dakota metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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

#1
Fargo
240 employed · $67.86/hr
$141,145
+2.15% vs avg
#2
Minot
40 employed · $66.61/hr
$138,542
+0.27% vs avg
#3
Grand Forks
70 employed · $66.29/hr
$137,881
-0.21% vs avg
#4
Bismarck
80 employed · $64.40/hr
$133,954
-3.05% vs avg
#5
West Fargo
10 employed · $61.02/hr
$126,934
-8.14% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in North Dakota

CityMedian 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.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Minot$138,54287.028$159,192
Grand Forks$137,88186.663$159,100
Fargo$141,14590.871$155,325
Bismarck$133,95491.024$147,163
West Fargo$126,93492$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 LevelEstimated 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

#CityMedian Salary
1Fargo$141,145
2Minot$138,542
3Grand Forks$137,881
4Bismarck$133,954
5West Fargo$126,934
6Dickinson$126,293
7Williston$123,246
8Mandan$120,716

More North Dakota Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore physician assistant hourly pay in North Dakota cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new physician assistants.

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?

The average median physician assistant salary in North Dakota is $138,175/year across 8 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $120,716 in Mandan to $141,145 in Fargo. This makes North Dakota 1.58% below the national median of $140,391. The state employs approximately 457 physician assistants.

What is the highest paying city for physician assistants in North Dakota?

Fargo offers the highest physician assistant salary in North Dakota at $141,145/year ($67.86/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Fargo ($141,145), Minot ($138,542), Grand Forks ($137,881). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for physician assistant services, and competition among employers for licensed physician assistants.

How does North Dakota physician assistant pay compare to the national average?

North Dakota's average physician assistant salary of $138,175 is 1.58% below the national median of $140,391 in 2026. The state employs approximately 457 physician assistants across 8 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level physician assistant salary in North Dakota?

Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) in North Dakota earn approximately $77,980/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $55,059 in lower-paying areas to $98,354 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many physician assistants are employed in North Dakota?

North Dakota employs approximately 457 physician assistants across 8 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. The smaller workforce means positions may be less competitive but also fewer in number. Demand continues to grow as the physician assistant field expands and the population ages.

Which North Dakota city offers the best value for physician assistants?

When adjusted for cost of living, Minot offers the highest purchasing power for physician assistants in North Dakota, with an adjusted salary of $159,192 (nominal: $138,542, CoL index: 87.028). This means your dollar goes 15% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
JT

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.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Chen, PA-CData verified by Amina Patel, MSPAS, PA-C

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

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