Counties in North Dakota by wages and salaries paid

Cass County had the highest wages and salaries paid of 53 counties in 2021, at $7.4 billion. Slope County had the lowest, at $8.37 million. The median was $78.07 million and the figure for North Dakota was $24.3 billion. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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Highest7,400.6Cass County
Lowest8.4Slope County
Median78.153 counties
North Dakota24,297.7History

Map of counties, 2021

Adams County: 41.2 USD millionBarnes County: 219.1 USD millionBenson County: 95.2 USD millionBillings County: 28.9 USD millionBottineau County: 113.6 USD millionBowman County: 64.6 USD millionBurke County: 42.8 USD millionBurleigh County: 3,326.3 USD millionCass County: 7,400.6 USD millionCavalier County: 69.8 USD millionDickey County: 79.5 USD millionDivide County: 40.3 USD millionDunn County: 145.4 USD millionEddy County: 30.4 USD millionEmmons County: 42.7 USD millionFoster County: 79.1 USD millionGolden Valley County: 25.7 USD millionGrand Forks County: 2,234.7 USD millionGrant County: 28.4 USD millionGriggs County: 39.7 USD millionHettinger County: 40.1 USD millionKidder County: 31.3 USD millionLaMoure County: 59.3 USD millionLogan County: 23.5 USD millionMcHenry County: 76.7 USD millionMcIntosh County: 43 USD millionMcKenzie County: 738.2 USD millionMcLean County: 226.3 USD millionMercer County: 306.7 USD millionMorton County: 635.2 USD millionMountrail County: 349.7 USD millionNelson County: 41.1 USD millionOliver County: 61.3 USD millionPembina County: 187 USD millionPierce County: 76.9 USD millionRamsey County: 271.7 USD millionRansom County: 94 USD millionRenville County: 34.5 USD millionRichland County: 383.1 USD millionRolette County: 211.5 USD millionSargent County: 186.4 USD millionSheridan County: 9 USD millionSioux County: 78.1 USD millionSlope County: 8.4 USD millionStark County: 1,105.9 USD millionSteele County: 34 USD millionStutsman County: 517.4 USD millionTowner County: 33 USD millionTraill County: 174.2 USD millionWalsh County: 243.5 USD millionWard County: 2,101.1 USD millionWells County: 72.1 USD millionWilliams County: 1,696.1 USD million
  • Under 30
  • 30 to 40
  • 40 to 80
  • 80 to 190
  • 190 to 430
  • 430 and over
USD million, 2021. Source: BEA, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2021

Cass County: 7,400.6 USD millionCass County7,400.6Burleigh County: 3,326.3 USD millionBurleigh County3,326.3Grand Forks County: 2,234.7 USD millionGrand Forks County2,234.7Ward County: 2,101.1 USD millionWard County2,101.1Williams County: 1,696.1 USD millionWilliams County1,696.1Stark County: 1,105.9 USD millionStark County1,105.9McKenzie County: 738.2 USD millionMcKenzie County738.2Morton County: 635.2 USD millionMorton County635.2Stutsman County: 517.4 USD millionStutsman County517.4Richland County: 383.1 USD millionRichland County383.1Mountrail County: 349.7 USD millionMountrail County349.7Mercer County: 306.7 USD millionMercer County306.7Ramsey County: 271.7 USD millionRamsey County271.7Walsh County: 243.5 USD millionWalsh County243.5McLean County: 226.3 USD millionMcLean County226.3Barnes County: 219.1 USD millionBarnes County219.1Rolette County: 211.5 USD millionRolette County211.5Pembina County: 187 USD millionPembina County187Sargent County: 186.4 USD millionSargent County186.4Traill County: 174.2 USD millionTraill County174.2Dunn County: 145.4 USD millionDunn County145.4Bottineau County: 113.6 USD millionBottineau County113.6Benson County: 95.2 USD millionBenson County95.2Ransom County: 94 USD millionRansom County94Dickey County: 79.5 USD millionDickey County79.5Foster County: 79.1 USD millionFoster County79.1Sioux County: 78.1 USD millionSioux County78.1Pierce County: 76.9 USD millionPierce County76.9McHenry County: 76.7 USD millionMcHenry County76.7Wells County: 72.1 USD millionWells County72.1Cavalier County: 69.8 USD millionCavalier County69.8Bowman County: 64.6 USD millionBowman County64.6Oliver County: 61.3 USD millionOliver County61.3LaMoure County: 59.3 USD millionLaMoure County59.3McIntosh County: 43 USD millionMcIntosh County43Burke County: 42.8 USD millionBurke County42.8Emmons County: 42.7 USD millionEmmons County42.7Adams County: 41.2 USD millionAdams County41.2Nelson County: 41.1 USD millionNelson County41.1Divide County: 40.3 USD millionDivide County40.3Hettinger County: 40.1 USD millionHettinger County40.1Griggs County: 39.7 USD millionGriggs County39.7Renville County: 34.5 USD millionRenville County34.5Steele County: 34 USD millionSteele County34Towner County: 33 USD millionTowner County33Kidder County: 31.3 USD millionKidder County31.3Eddy County: 30.4 USD millionEddy County30.4Billings County: 28.9 USD millionBillings County28.9Grant County: 28.4 USD millionGrant County28.4Golden Valley County: 25.7 USD millionGolden Valley County25.7Logan County: 23.5 USD millionLogan County23.5Sheridan County: 9 USD millionSheridan County9Slope County: 8.4 USD millionSlope County8.4Cass County: 7,400.6 USD millionCass County7,400.6Burleigh County: 3,326.3 USD millionBurleigh County3,326.3Grand Forks County: 2,234.7 USD millionGrand Forks County2,234.7Ward County: 2,101.1 USD millionWard County2,101.1Williams County: 1,696.1 USD millionWilliams County1,696.1Stark County: 1,105.9 USD millionStark County1,105.9McKenzie County: 738.2 USD millionMcKenzie County738.2Morton County: 635.2 USD millionMorton County635.2Stutsman County: 517.4 USD millionStutsman County517.4Richland County: 383.1 USD millionRichland County383.1Mountrail County: 349.7 USD millionMountrail County349.7Mercer County: 306.7 USD millionMercer County306.7Ramsey County: 271.7 USD millionRamsey County271.7Walsh County: 243.5 USD millionWalsh County243.5McLean County: 226.3 USD millionMcLean County226.3Barnes County: 219.1 USD millionBarnes County219.1Rolette County: 211.5 USD millionRolette County211.5Pembina County: 187 USD millionPembina County187Sargent County: 186.4 USD millionSargent County186.4Traill County: 174.2 USD millionTraill County174.2Dunn County: 145.4 USD millionDunn County145.4Bottineau County: 113.6 USD millionBottineau County113.6Benson County: 95.2 USD millionBenson County95.2Ransom County: 94 USD millionRansom County94Dickey County: 79.5 USD millionDickey County79.5Foster County: 79.1 USD millionFoster County79.1Sioux County: 78.1 USD millionSioux County78.1Pierce County: 76.9 USD millionPierce County76.9McHenry County: 76.7 USD millionMcHenry County76.7Wells County: 72.1 USD millionWells County72.1Cavalier County: 69.8 USD millionCavalier County69.8Bowman County: 64.6 USD millionBowman County64.6Oliver County: 61.3 USD millionOliver County61.3LaMoure County: 59.3 USD millionLaMoure County59.3McIntosh County: 43 USD millionMcIntosh County43Burke County: 42.8 USD millionBurke County42.8Emmons County: 42.7 USD millionEmmons County42.7Adams County: 41.2 USD millionAdams County41.2Nelson County: 41.1 USD millionNelson County41.1Divide County: 40.3 USD millionDivide County40.3Hettinger County: 40.1 USD millionHettinger County40.1Griggs County: 39.7 USD millionGriggs County39.7Renville County: 34.5 USD millionRenville County34.5Steele County: 34 USD millionSteele County34Towner County: 33 USD millionTowner County33Kidder County: 31.3 USD millionKidder County31.3Eddy County: 30.4 USD millionEddy County30.4Billings County: 28.9 USD millionBillings County28.9Grant County: 28.4 USD millionGrant County28.4Golden Valley County: 25.7 USD millionGolden Valley County25.7Logan County: 23.5 USD millionLogan County23.5Sheridan County: 9 USD millionSheridan County9Slope County: 8.4 USD millionSlope County8.4
USD million. Source: BEA, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021
USD million
Change on 2020
1Cass County7,400.6+8.8%
2Burleigh County3,326.3+6.2%
3Grand Forks County2,234.7+4.7%
4Ward County2,101.1+3%
5Williams County1,696.1-9.1%
6Stark County1,105.9-2.7%
7McKenzie County738.2-9.8%
8Morton County635.2+1%
9Stutsman County517.4+2.6%
10Richland County383.1+6.8%
11Mountrail County349.7-3.2%
12Mercer County306.7+6.4%
13Ramsey County271.7+6.3%
14Walsh County243.5+7.9%
15McLean County226.3-0.3%
16Barnes County219.1+6.6%
17Rolette County211.5+11.5%
18Pembina County187+2.4%
19Sargent County186.4+5.5%
20Traill County174.2+2.8%
21Dunn County145.4-0.8%
22Bottineau County113.6+0.7%
23Benson County95.2+5.2%
24Ransom County94+3%
25Dickey County79.5+3.6%
26Foster County79.1+0.2%
27Sioux County78.1+4.1%
28Pierce County76.9-0.3%
29McHenry County76.7+21.1%
30Wells County72.1+1.5%
31Cavalier County69.8-0.7%
32Bowman County64.6-3.8%
33Oliver County61.3+4.1%
34LaMoure County59.3+4.2%
35McIntosh County43+1.9%
36Burke County42.8+7.3%
37Emmons County42.7+6%
38Adams County41.2-4.1%
39Nelson County41.1+4.4%
40Divide County40.3+3.4%
41Hettinger County40.1+6.6%
42Griggs County39.7+5.1%
43Renville County34.5+1.3%
44Steele County34-0.7%
45Towner County33+0.9%
46Kidder County31.3+3.2%
47Eddy County30.4+1%
48Billings County28.9+14.1%
49Grant County28.4+9.4%
50Golden Valley County25.7-0.8%
51Logan County23.5+4.6%
52Sheridan County9+3.9%
53Slope County8.4-5.7%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total wages and salaries paid to employees for jobs located in a place, including tips, bonuses and pay in kind, before deductions, in millions of current US dollars. United States: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional accounts, table SAINC4 line 50 for the nation and states and CAINC4 line 50 for counties.

Counted where the jobs are, not where the workers live, so places with many commuters coming in can pay more in wages than their residents receive in personal income (the District of Columbia does). Excludes employer contributions to pensions, insurance and social security, and the income of the self-employed.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026). CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents (Counties in North Dakota by wages and salaries paid, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip

MLA 9

CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in North Dakota by wages and salaries paid, 2021. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 5 Feb. 2026, https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/north-dakota-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2026. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Counties in North Dakota by wages and salaries paid, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/north-dakota-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2026) CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in North Dakota by wages and salaries paid, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/north-dakota-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_north_dakota_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis}},
  title = {{CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in North Dakota by wages and salaries paid, 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/north-dakota-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
TI  - CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in North Dakota by wages and salaries paid, 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/05
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/north-dakota-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/north-dakota-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest wages and salaries paid?

Cass County, with $7.4 billion in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Which county has the lowest wages and salaries paid?

Slope County, with $8.37 million in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Wages and salaries paid: other rankings

Counties in North Dakota: more rankings