$17 an Hour in North Dakota — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)
At $17/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $35,360. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and North Dakota state income tax, your take-home pay is $14.48/hr. In North Dakota's low cost-of-living environment, this is enough to get by in North Dakota, though budget carefully.
Pay Period Breakdown
Full Tax Breakdown — North Dakota, Single Filer
How Does North Dakota Compare?
See how $17/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:
Equivalent Annual Salary Pages
$17/hr = $35,360/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:
Adjacent Rates in North Dakota
Same Rate, Other States
Cost of Living in North Dakota
- Avg 1BR rent in Fargo: $950/mo — over the 30% rule (32% of gross monthly)
- Minimum comfortable income in North Dakota: $34,000/yr
- Your net annual: $30,110 ($3,890 below comfortable threshold)
- Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$21/hr
Working at $17/hr in North Dakota
This is a very comfortable income in North Dakota. The 2.5% flat tax is nearly the lowest in the US. Fargo's stable economy and low cost of living translate this wage into real financial security.
At ${rate}/hr, you work roughly 66 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Fargo (${rent.toLocaleString()}/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 2.3x North Dakota's federal minimum wage of ${ctx.minWage}/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at ${rate}/hr in North Dakota is 14.8% -- federal income tax accounts for 5.8%, FICA 7.6%, and North Dakota state tax 1.4%.
North Dakota's economy is driven by energy (Bakken oil formation), agriculture, and healthcare. Fargo has a growing tech and healthcare sector. The oil boom/bust cycle affects wages significantly in western North Dakota.
North Dakota has one of the lowest income tax structures in the US — a flat 2.5% rate for most earners (2026). The state mirrors the federal standard deduction.
North Dakota follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr.
Monthly Budget on $17/hr in North Dakota
Based on $2,509/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for North Dakota's cost of living.
Overtime Pay — $17/hr in North Dakota
At time-and-a-half ($25.50/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in North Dakota. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~16.0%.
Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $17/hr
How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $14.48 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
17 an hour -- is it a good wage in North Dakota?
17/hr in North Dakota gives you $30,110/year after taxes -- enough to get by in North Dakota, though budget carefully. Avg 1BR rent in Fargo: $950/month (exceeds the 30% rule).
What is 17 an hour after taxes in North Dakota?
17/hr in North Dakota = $30,110/year or $2,509/month net. Effective rate: 14.8%.
How does 17/hr go further -- North Dakota or Texas?
17/hr in North Dakota has similar purchasing power to ~21/hr in Texas.
What does 17/hr look like as a monthly budget in North Dakota?
On $2,509/month in North Dakota: rent $950, food $301, transport $251, savings $251, surplus ~$355.
How much does overtime add at 17/hr in North Dakota?
At 1.5x (25.50/hr OT), 5 extra hrs/week adds ~$5,350/year net; 10 hrs/week adds ~$10,700/year.