Truck Driver Salary in North Dakota (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers

Truck Driver Salary in North Dakota (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers

Last verified: 2026-04-20 against the BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release (published March 2025).

North Dakota punches far above its population weight on trucking pay, driven by the Bakken oilfield in the western third of the state. Williston, Dickinson, Minot, and surrounding communities sit on top of one of the most productive unconventional oil plays in the U.S., and the freight demand (frac water, sand, equipment, crude oil) generates premium pay. Eastern ND anchors agricultural freight (wheat, soybeans, sugar beets).

Key Takeaways

• BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — North Dakota state median: $62,260. Employment: ~7,850.²
• North Dakota median sits ~$4,820 above the national median — among the top-paying states, driven by Bakken oilfield premium.
• Top paying metros: Fargo MSA, Bismarck MSA, Williston micropolitan (Bakken).
• Distinguishing features: Bakken oilfield premium (cyclical with oil prices), agricultural freight, low cost of living outside Bakken-boomtown housing.

North Dakota Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data

Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nd.htm.²

How North Dakota Compares to the National Median

ND's $62,260 median sits ~$4,820 above national — one of the highest state medians in the U.S. for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers.¹² The premium is driven by Bakken oilfield specialty pay demand. Cost of living in ND is generally below national; Bakken boomtown housing is the exception (Williston housing can spike during drilling peaks).³

Top North Dakota Metros

Fargo MSA

• Distribution + I-94 corridor + regional ag freight.
• Case IH / CNH Industrial manufacturing.

Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_22020.htm.⁴

Bismarck MSA

• State capital + energy industry logistics.
• I-94 corridor.

Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_13900.htm.⁴

Williston micropolitan (Bakken core)

• Bakken oilfield specialty freight — frac water, sand, pipe, equipment, crude oil.
• Pay among highest in the state during drilling peaks.

Major Freight Industries

Major Carriers Hiring in North Dakota

• Bakken specialty: various oilfield services fleets (Halliburton, Schlumberger contractors, specialty frac haulers), crude oil haulers, Kenan Advantage Group, Groendyke.
• Mega OTR: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Knight-Swift.
• LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, FedEx Freight, Estes.
• Agricultural: various specialty grain + ag haulers.
• Regional: ND-based regional carriers, Stallion Oilfield, oilfield service contractors.

FAQs

How much does a truck driver make in North Dakota in 2026? ND state median is $62,260 per BLS OEWS May 2024, with ~7,850 drivers employed.² Among the top-paying states (+$4,820 vs national). Bakken oilfield specialty drivers push $90,000–$110,000+ during active drilling.

Is the Bakken still a good place for truck drivers? Yes, when oil prices support drilling. Bakken freight is cyclical — active drilling pulls driver wages above state mean; slow periods retract them. Drivers willing to accept the cyclicality can earn materially more than in non-oilfield states.

What is the highest-paying trucking job in North Dakota? Bakken oilfield specialty (frac water, sand hauler, crude oil X-endorsed) during active drilling periods. $95,000–$120,000+ achievable for experienced specialty drivers.

What are the largest carriers hiring in North Dakota in 2026? Oilfield services contractors (Bakken-specific), Kenan Advantage, Groendyke, Schneider, Werner, Old Dominion, Saia, Walmart Private Fleet, ag specialty haulers.

Sources