What this means Our calculation
14 of 16 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is telecom line installers at $85,620. Prices run 13% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is lower than most metros (2.7%) and the population is shrinking (-2.4% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Minot Government data
All 16 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telecom Line Installer | $85,620 | +29% | $98,382 | 40 | #52 |
| Construction Supervisor | $82,680 | +7% | $95,004 | 420 | #98 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $74,490 | +17% | $85,593 | 140 | #66 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $72,800 | +21% | $83,651 | 160 | #29 |
| HVAC Technician | $63,950 | +7% | $73,482 | 60 | #86 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $62,990 | +6% | $72,379 | 290 | #134 |
| Plumber | $62,400 | +2% | $71,701 | 150 | #175 |
| Welder | $62,060 | +19% | $71,310 | 80 | #35 |
| Auto Mechanic | $60,020 | +23% | $68,966 | 210 | #38 |
| Electrician | $59,800 | -4% | $68,714 | 340 | #248 |
| Carpenter | $58,950 | +5% | $67,737 | 160 | #157 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $57,370 | +11% | $65,921 | 80 | #93 |
| Maintenance Technician | $49,960 | +3% | $57,407 | 280 | #140 |
| Roofer | $49,410 | -1% | $56,775 | 40 | #148 |
| Construction Laborer | $49,180 | +5% | $56,511 | 340 | #143 |
| Landscaper | $42,680 | +14% | $49,042 | 170 | #98 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Minot
The Minot area has about 37,006 homes. 44% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is about as old as most; 26% were built in 2010 or later. 59% of households own their home, and the median home value is $264,600.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Minot Government data
In an average year, Minot has 13 days at 90°F or hotter (fewer than most metros; typical metro 33), 177 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 37 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 45 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 82°F and winter nights 7°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Minot International Airport, ND station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
2.7% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Minot area's population shrank 2.4% from 2020 to 2025 (77,522 → 75,694), ranking #367 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). More people moved out than in (net -3,904).
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Minot are roughly flat from 2024 to 2025 (141 → 141). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2024–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Minot area is 19 minutes each way, shorter than the typical metro (24 min). 9% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 77% drive alone, 1% take transit and 4% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in North Dakota Official source
The main state licensing office in North Dakota is the North Dakota Secretary of State. Contractor licensing; electricians and plumbers have their own state boards. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official North Dakota licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 6.0% of wage and salary workers in North Dakota were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#35 of 51 states and D.C.), and 7.4% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in North Dakota.