Minimum wage in North Dakota
$7.25 per hour1
per hourGeneral rate since July 24, 2009
No scheduled increase on record.
BLS · May 2025
How the minimum compares with typical pay in North Dakota
29%of the median hourly wage
The median hourly wage across all occupations in North Dakota is $25.23 and the mean is $30.79 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates). The minimum wage of $7.25 is 29% of the median; the 10th-percentile wage is $15.06, so roughly the lowest-paid tenth of workers earn within $7.81 of the minimum. BLS
| Applies to | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
| 10th percentile | $15.06 |
| 25th percentile | $18.56 |
| Median | $25.23 |
| Mean | $30.79 |
9 rules · September 27, 2026
Labor law basics in North Dakota
What the law adds on top of the hourly rate. Follow the citation for exceptions.
Overtime
Employees must be paid 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a week; paid holidays, paid time off and sick leave do not count toward overtime hours. (non-exempt employees (N.D. Admin. Code 46-02-07))
Source: N.D. Admin. Code ch. 46-02-07 (Minimum Wage and Work Conditions Order)
4. Overtime pay must be paid at one and one-half times the regular rate of pay to any employee for hours worked in excess of forty hours in any one week. Paid holidays, paid time off, or sick leave are not counted in computing overtime hours. Overtime is computed on a weekly basis
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Meal breaks
When two or more employees are on duty, each shift over 5 hours must include a meal period of at least 30 minutes, which employees may waive by agreement and which may be unpaid if they are completely relieved of duties.
Source: N.D. Admin. Code ch. 46-02-07 (Minimum Wage and Work Conditions Order)
5. A minimum thirty -minute meal period must be provided in each shift exceeding five hours when there are two or more employees on duty. Employees may waive their right to a meal period upon agreement with the employer. Employees do not have to be paid for meal periods if they are completely relieved of their duties and the meal period is ordinarily thirty minutes in length.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Tips
Employers may take a tip credit of up to 33% of the minimum wage only after telling the employee in advance and keeping records showing wages plus the credit reach the minimum wage. (tipped employees)
Source: N.D. Admin. Code ch. 46-02-07 (Minimum Wage and Work Conditions Order)
1. A tip credit of thirty-three percent of the minimum wage may be allowed for tipped employees. The employer may consider tips as part of wages, but such a tip credit must not exceed thirty-three percent of the minimum wage. The employer who elects to use the tip credit provision must inform the employee in advance and must maintain written records showing that the employee receives at least the minimum wage when direct wages and the tip credit allowance are combined.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Pay frequency
Employers must pay all wages due at least once each calendar month on regular paydays designated in advance.
Source: N.D. Cent. Code ch. 34-14
Every employer shall pay all wages due to employees at least once each calendar month on regular agreed paydays designated in advance by the employer.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Final paycheck
Employees who are discharged, quit or are suspended in an industrial dispute are owed their unpaid wages on the regular paydays for the periods worked, and a discharged employee must be paid by certified mail to an address the employee designates unless both parties agree otherwise.
Source: N.D. Cent. Code ch. 34-14
Whenever an employee is discharged or terminated from employment by an employer, separates from employment voluntarily, or is suspended from work as the result of an industrial dispute, the employee's unpaid wages or compensation becomes due and payable at the regular paydays established in advance by the employer for the periods worked by the employee. When an employer discharges or terminates an employee, the employer shall pay those wages to the employee by certified mail at an address designated by the employee or as otherwise agreed upon by both parties.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Young workers' hours
14- and 15-year-olds may not work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day), more than 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day or 40 hours in a non-school week. (minors aged 14 and 15, except sports-attendant, domestic and farm work)
Source: N.D. Cent. Code ch. 34-07
1. A minor fourteen or fifteen years of age may not be employed or permitted to work at any occupation, except in sports-attendant services, in domestic services, and at farm labor, before the hour of seven a.m. nor after the hour of seven p.m., except that these hours are seven a.m. to nine p.m. from June first through labor day, nor more than eighteen hours during schoolweeks, nor more than three hours on schooldays, nor more than forty hours during nonschoolweeks, nor more than eight hours on nonschooldays.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Recovering unpaid wages
The Department may be able to help workers who were not paid wages owed, such as unpaid overtime or minimum wage, unauthorized paycheck deductions or a final paycheck including PTO or vacation, through its wage claim process.
Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 34-14-09
The Department may be able to assist if you believe you are entitled to wages that were not paid to you. Examples include failure to pay overtime or minimum wage, unauthorized paycheck deductions, and failure to issue a final paycheck, including PTO/vacation time. Certain information is required in order to file a claim for wages. Please review the wage claim process carefully prior to submitting a claim for wages.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Overtime-exempt salary threshold
Executive, administrative and professional employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime only if they meet the duties tests and are paid a salary of at least $684 per week ($35,568 a year). (executive, administrative, professional and outside sales employees)
Source: 29 C.F.R. Part 541
To qualify for exemption, employees generally must meet certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis at not less than $684 per week.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- The 2024 rule raising the level to $844/$1,128 was vacated in November 2024; DOL enforces the 2019 level of $684.
Verified September 26, 2026
Required poster
Employers whose employees are covered by the FLSA minimum wage provisions must post, and keep posted, a notice explaining the Act in a conspicuous place in all of their establishments. (employers covered by the FLSA)
Source: 29 U.S.C. § 207
Every employer of employees subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage provisions must post, and keep posted, a notice explaining the Act in a conspicuous place in all of their establishments.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- The notice DOL publishes for this purpose is the FLSA minimum wage poster (WH-1088), free from the WHD posters page.
Verified September 26, 2026
$7.25 / hour
Calculators
Estimates before tax at this rate. Nothing you type leaves this page.
What this wage pays
| Weekly | $290.00 |
|---|---|
| Monthly52 weeks ÷ 12 | $1,256.67 |
| Annual52 weeks | $15,080.00 |
| Overtime rate1.5× where overtime applies | $10.88 |
4 questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in North Dakota?
$7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009. For a 40-hour week that is about $290.00 a week or $15,080.00 a year before tax.
Is the minimum wage in North Dakota increasing?
No increase is scheduled on record as of October 1, 2026. Inflation-indexed jurisdictions announce the next figure a few months before it takes effect.
Is there a lower tipped minimum wage in North Dakota?
No separate tipped rate is on record for North Dakota; tipped employees are owed the full $7.25 per hour before tips, unless a higher-level rule sets one.
How does North Dakota compare with other states?
North Dakota's $7.25 ranks 32 of 51 state general rates, against a federal floor of $7.25.
2 levels of law
How this rate is resolved
The highest minimum that covers the work location applies.
Employers must pay the highest minimum that covers the work location. WageTable checks each level in turn:
- United States
- North Dakota
North Dakota sets 1 rule of its own. Year pages: 2026, 2027.
Notes on this jurisdiction's rules and sources
N.D. Cent. Code § 34-06-22 and N.D. Admin. Code ch. 46-02-07 set the state rate equal to the federal rate since July 24, 2009; tip credit of 33% of the minimum wage. North Dakota has no training wage. The statute states the 2007-2009 steps in words only.
North Dakota
Enforcement
Enforced by North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights. Employers must display the official minimum wage poster.
Underpaid?File a wage claim