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What does a Mechanical Engineers 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 Mechanical Engineers earning $86,330 in North Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $97,328 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) | $63,930 | $72,074 | +$8,144 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $77,990 | $87,925 | +$9,935 |
| Median (P50) | $86,330 | $97,328 | +$10,998 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $114,830 | $129,458 | +$14,628 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $136,060 | $153,393 | +$17,333 |
A Mechanical Engineers in North Dakota earns $86,330 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $97,328 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 Mechanical Engineers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $86,330 for North Dakota's cost of living yields $97,328 — 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 ranks #45 of 51 — bottom quartile for Mechanical Engineers real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Mechanical Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
North Dakota ranks #45 out of 51 states for Mechanical Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Mechanical Engineers take-home pay in North Dakota after taxes →
A Mechanical Engineers in North Dakota earns a median salary of $86,330 per year. After adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.7), the real purchasing power is $97,328 — 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 Mechanical Engineers in North Dakota: $86,330 x (100 / 88.7) = $97,328. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Mechanical Engineers 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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