What does a Welder 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 Welder earning $60,270 in North Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $67,948 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) | $45,510 | $51,307 | +$5,797 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,100 | $57,609 | +$6,509 |
| Median (P50) | $60,270 | $67,948 | +$7,678 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $70,280 | $79,233 | +$8,953 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $83,080 | $93,664 | +$10,584 |
A Welder in North Dakota earns $60,270 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $67,948 in an average-cost state. This makes North Dakota one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Welder salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
North Dakota ranks #4 out of 50 states for Welder after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Welder in North Dakota earns a median salary of $60,270 per year. After adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.7), the real purchasing power is $67,948 — 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 Welder in North Dakota: $60,270 x (100 / 88.7) = $67,948. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Welder 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.