What does a Firefighter salary really buy you in North Dakota?
North Dakota is 11.3% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
North Dakota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.7, meaning prices are 11.3% lower the national average. A Firefighter earning $53,660 in North Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $60,496 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) | $37,950 | $42,784 | +$4,834 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $46,920 | $52,897 | +$5,977 |
| Median (P50) | $53,660 | $60,496 | +$6,836 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $64,460 | $72,671 | +$8,211 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $74,610 | $84,114 | +$9,504 |
A Firefighter in North Dakota earns $53,660 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $60,496 in an average-cost state. This makes North Dakota one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Firefighter salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
North Dakota ranks #21 out of 49 states for Firefighter after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Firefighter in North Dakota earns a median salary of $53,660 per year. After adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.7), the real purchasing power is $60,496 — 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 Firefighter in North Dakota: $53,660 x (100 / 88.7) = $60,496. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Firefighter 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.