Salary

CPA Salary in North Dakota (2026)

Use current federal wage benchmarks to evaluate accounting pay in North Dakota. The figures cover accountants and auditors, not CPAs alone, so the page separates published data from career interpretation.

Quick answer

The May 2025 BLS benchmark for accountants and auditors in North Dakota is $80k in annual mean pay and $76k at the median. BLS does not publish a CPA-only state wage.

Published source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS state estimates for Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), reference period May 2025, released 2026-05-15. These are occupation-wide figures, not CPA-only, experience-level, employer, or industry estimates.

$80k

Annual Mean

BLS accountants and auditors

$76k

Annual Median

North Dakota

$61k

25th Percentile

lower-market benchmark

$96k

75th Percentile

upper-market benchmark

North Dakota accountant and auditor wage distribution

BLS percentiles describe the statewide occupation distribution. They do not map directly to years of experience or guarantee a CPA salary.

May 2025 BLS annual wage estimates

10th percentile
$49,330
25th percentile
$60,960
Median
$75,730
Annual mean
$80,090
75th percentile
$95,780
90th percentile
$124,960

Lower-end and higher-end salary benchmarks in North Dakota

North Dakota Accountants and Auditors, BLS OEWS May 2025
BLS benchmarkAnnual payHow to use it
10th percentile$49,330Lower end of the occupation distribution
25th percentile$60,960Lower-market comparison point
Median$75,730Half of reported wages fall above and half below
75th percentile$95,780Upper-market comparison point
90th percentile$124,960Upper end of the occupation distribution

Planning to earn the credential? Review the North Dakota CPA exam and license requirements.

How to read North Dakota CPA salary data

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports $80,090 in annual mean pay and $75,730 in annual median pay for accountants and auditors in North Dakota. The mean is influenced by higher-paid roles, while the median marks the midpoint of the published wage distribution.

These figures are the most defensible statewide benchmark available here, but they are not a CPA premium study. Use them to anchor an offer comparison, then account for certification, specialty, city, employer, responsibility, and experience.

Lower and upper pay benchmarks in North Dakota

The lower end of the BLS distribution runs from $49,330 at the 10th percentile to $60,960 at the 25th percentile. Because BLS does not classify wages by years of experience, this range should not be described as a guaranteed starting salary.

At the upper end, the 75th percentile is $95,780 and the 90th percentile is $124,960. Those values describe the occupation distribution, not a promised senior, manager, director, or partner salary.

What can change a CPA salary in North Dakota

CPA status can strengthen a candidate's position, but compensation still depends on the work performed. Public accounting, corporate reporting, tax, audit, advisory, government, and nonprofit roles can sit at different points in the statewide distribution.

Compare total compensation as well as base pay. Bonuses, retirement contributions, health coverage, overtime expectations, remote-work terms, and the local cost of housing can materially change the value of an offer.

Turn your North Dakota salary goal into a study plan

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average accountant salary in North Dakota?
The May 2025 BLS OEWS estimate lists annual mean pay of $80,090 for accountants and auditors in North Dakota. BLS released this dataset in May 2026 and does not publish a CPA-only state average.
What is a realistic starting salary benchmark in North Dakota?
BLS does not label wages by experience level. Its 10th-to-25th-percentile range for North Dakota accountants and auditors is $49,330 to $60,960. Treat that as a lower-end market benchmark, not a guaranteed CPA starting salary.
What do higher-paid accountants earn in North Dakota?
The BLS 75th-to-90th-percentile range is $95,780 to $124,960 for accountants and auditors in North Dakota. Certification, role, industry, city, responsibility, and experience can all affect an individual offer.
Does BLS report CPA salaries separately?
No. BLS occupation code 13-2011 combines accountants and auditors and does not identify CPA status. This guide uses those figures as a transparent market benchmark rather than presenting them as CPA-only wages.