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What does a Bartenders salary really buy you in North Dakota?
North Dakota is 11.3% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
North Dakota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.7, meaning prices are 11.3% lower the national average. A Bartenders earning $29,040 in North Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $32,739 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $18,850 | $21,251 | +$2,401 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $22,760 | $25,659 | +$2,899 |
| Median (P50) | $29,040 | $32,739 | +$3,699 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $35,610 | $40,146 | +$4,536 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $57,050 | $64,317 | +$7,267 |
A Bartenders in North Dakota earns $29,040 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $32,739 in an average-cost state. This makes North Dakota one of the best value states for this occupation.
North Dakota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 88.7 means a basket of goods and services costs about 11.3% less than the national average. For a Bartenders, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $29,040 for North Dakota's cost of living yields $32,740 — a 12.7% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
North Dakota's rank of #27 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Bartenders trails the national half-way line.
Where does Bartenders salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
North Dakota ranks #27 out of 51 states for Bartenders after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Bartenders take-home pay in North Dakota after taxes →
A Bartenders in North Dakota earns a median salary of $29,040 per year. After adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.7), the real purchasing power is $32,739 — a +12.7% difference.
North Dakota's cost of living is 11.3% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for North Dakota is 88.7 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Bartenders in North Dakota: $29,040 x (100 / 88.7) = $32,739. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Bartenders in North Dakota enjoys 12.7% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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