Janitorial Wages in North Dakota (2026)

North Dakota's janitorial workforce earns a statewide mean and median hourly wage of $17.63 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 37-2011) — well above the national median and one of the highest among states with no independent minimum wage law. The energy-sector-driven labor market in western North Dakota, combined with statewide labor scarcity from low population density, has pushed commercial cleaning wages well above what BLS data typically shows for Great Plains states. The federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr provides the legal floor, but market rates start at $14/hr even in the state's lowest-paying areas.

What employers should plan for

• Floor: $7.25/hr federal (N.D. Cent. Code §34-06-03; ND state minimum = federal rate). The $10.38/hr gap between the federal minimum and the statewide median — the widest in this batch — confirms market forces govern North Dakota wages entirely.
• Local floors: No North Dakota city or county has enacted a local minimum wage ordinance. Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks track the federal floor.
• Loaded labor rate: Commercial cleaning bids in North Dakota typically run $27–$34/hr total loaded cost. West ND energy corridor contracts command a premium due to labor scarcity and travel requirements.
• Workers' comp — North Dakota is a monopolistic state: all WC coverage must be purchased through North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI), a state fund. There are no private WC carriers in ND. The applicable ND WSI class code for building custodians and janitorial services is class 9007 (not NCCI 9014) at a base rate of $1.91/$100 payroll (effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026). This is among the lowest janitorial WC rates in this batch.

High-wage metros vs. low-wage metros

West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area leads at median $18.72/hr (10th: $13.94, 25th: $17.12, 75th: $22.65, 90th: $24.57), reflecting the Bakken oil patch labor premium in Williston, Dickinson, and surrounding energy-sector towns. Minot ND MSA follows at median $17.94/hr (10th: $14.25, 25th: $17.23, 75th: $21.78, 90th: $24.12), anchored by Minot Air Force Base facility contracts and the regional trade hub. At the lower end, Fargo ND-MN MSA — the state's largest city — posts median $17.43/hr (10th: $14.01, 25th: $16.31, 75th: $19.59, 90th: $22.27), and Grand Forks ND-MN MSA comes in at median $17.26/hr (10th: $13.54, 25th: $15.47, 75th: $20.92, 90th: $22.89).

Wage percentile distribution (BLS OEWS 2024)

• 10th percentile: $13.99/hr
• 25th percentile: $16.53/hr
• Median (50th): $17.63/hr
• 75th percentile: $20.71/hr
• 90th percentile: $23.02/hr

North Dakota exhibits an exceptionally compressed lower distribution — only a $3.64/hr spread from the 10th to the median — with all but the lowest decile clustered above $16/hr. This reflects the statewide labor scarcity effect: even entry-level cleaning positions in ND command wages well above what is typical in larger states. The $9.03/hr spread from 10th to 90th is moderate, with limited high-premium union contract influence on the upper tail.

Union presence

North Dakota has very low private-sector union density (~5.0% statewide). SEIU 32BJ has no presence in North Dakota commercial cleaning markets. AFSCME and AFGE locals represent some public facility workers at state agencies, the University of North Dakota, and NDSU. Energy-sector facility workers in the Bakken area may be covered under Operating Engineers (IUOE) contracts for certain specialized maintenance roles, but standard commercial janitorial work is non-union. The Fargo and Bismarck commercial cleaning markets are entirely non-union.

What this means for bid math

North Dakota's combination of a high median wage ($17.63/hr) and one of the lowest janitorial WC rates in this batch (ND WSI class 9007 at $1.91/$100) creates an unusual cost profile: high labor but low workers' comp burden. Total loaded labor runs approximately $26–$32/hr (1.50–1.80× base). West ND energy corridor contracts require a separate cost model — wages of $19–$22/hr are typical in the Bakken market, and field overhead adds additional cost. Remember that ND employers must purchase WC exclusively through WSI (no private carriers) and must register directly with the state fund before employing workers in North Dakota.

Primary sources

• O*NET Local Wages — North Dakota (BLS OEWS May 2024 data)
• ND Workforce Safety & Insurance — 2025/2026 Manual Rates (class 9007: $1.91/$100)
• DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws