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What does a Waiters and Waitresses 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 Waiters and Waitresses earning $30,890 in North Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $34,825 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) | $18,470 | $20,822 | +$2,352 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $21,930 | $24,723 | +$2,793 |
| Median (P50) | $30,890 | $34,825 | +$3,935 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $44,960 | $50,687 | +$5,727 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $60,570 | $68,286 | +$7,716 |
A Waiters and Waitresses in North Dakota earns $30,890 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $34,825 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 Waiters and Waitresses, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $30,890 for North Dakota's cost of living yields $34,825 — 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 sits at #25 of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Waiters and Waitresses salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
North Dakota ranks #25 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Waiters and Waitresses take-home pay in North Dakota after taxes →
A Waiters and Waitresses in North Dakota earns a median salary of $30,890 per year. After adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.7), the real purchasing power is $34,825 — 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 Waiters and Waitresses in North Dakota: $30,890 x (100 / 88.7) = $34,825. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Waiters and Waitresses 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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