How much does a Police Officer make in North Dakota?

BLS puts the average Police Officer pay in North Dakota at $72,400 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in North Dakota, after federal taxes, FICA, and North Dakota state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $59,632 annually ($4,969/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Police Officer in North Dakota?

On a $72,400 salary in North Dakota, your take-home pay is approximately $59,632/year or $4,969/month. Federal tax: $7,098. State tax: $131. FICA: $5,539.

Is $72,400 a good Police Officer salary?

$72,400 is the BLS average Police Officer pay in North Dakota, 9% below the US average of $79,200 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in North Dakota earn between $62,670 and $78,050.

How do North Dakota taxes affect Police Officer salaries?

North Dakota levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $72,400 is $131. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 17.6%.

What are the career growth prospects for Police Officers?

In North Dakota, the top 10% earn over $91,440 and the bottom 10% under $58,620 (BLS, May 2025). 3% growth through 2032 (about as fast as average). Related roles include: Detective, Sergeant, State Trooper, Sheriff Deputy, Federal Agent.

How can a Police Officer in North Dakota reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Public Safety

Police Officer Salary in North Dakota (2026)

Average Police Officer pay in North Dakota

$72,400/year

≈ $35/hour before tax

Middle 50% earn $62,670–$78,050

US average: $79,200

Source: BLS, May 2025

After tax (single filer)

$59,632/year

$4,969/month · effective tax rate 17.63%

Federal $7,098
State $131
FICA $5,539
Take-home

Pay by role in North Dakota

Sergeant / Lieutenant / Captain (Fargo metro)BLS · Fargo, ND-MN · middle 50%$93,440–$128,430
Senior Patrol / Specialty OfficerBLS · 75th–90th percentile$78,050–$91,440
Detective / InvestigatorBLS · middle 50%$62,200–$106,330
Patrol Officer / Trooper / DeputyBLS · middle 50%$62,670–$78,050
Recruit / Probationary OfficerBLS · 10th–25th percentile$58,620–$62,670

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$59,632
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$4,969
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$2,294
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$29/hr
Federal Tax	$7,098
State Tax	$131
FICA Taxes	$5,539
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	17.63%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Police Officers earn the same — not even close

North Dakota's police officer market is anchored by Fargo Police Department (~190 sworn officers + the largest ND municipal police + the substantial Fargo post-2020 reform + FPD Major Crimes + the substantial post-2020 Fargo recruitment + retention challenges + the substantial Fargo metro fastest-growing ND region), North Dakota Highway Patrol NDHP (~150 sworn troopers within ND Department of Transportation + the substantial ND statewide police agency + NDHP Special Operations + NDHP K-9 + the substantial NDHP I-94 + I-29 interstate patrol + the substantial NDHP covering vast ND rural territory + the substantial NDHP Bakken patrol), Bismarck Police Department (~120 sworn + the substantial Bismarck state capital + ND State agencies market), Grand Forks Police Department (~85 sworn + UND + Grand Forks AFB + Altru Health), Minot Police Department (~80 sworn + the substantial Minot AFB + Trinity Health + the substantial Minot Bakken northern fringe), Williston Police Department (the substantial Williston Bakken oil epicenter + the substantial post-2010 Williston Bakken boom recruitment + retention crisis + the substantial Williston post-2014 oil bust + post-2020 recovery), Dickinson PD + West Fargo PD + the substantial ND smaller municipal departments + Cass County Sheriff Fargo + Williams County Sheriff Williston + Burleigh County Sheriff Bismarck + Grand Forks County Sheriff + Stark County Sheriff Dickinson + the substantial ND rural sheriff offices, plus substantial federal law enforcement at FBI Bismarck + DEA + ATF + USMS + BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs (Standing Rock + Spirit Lake + Turtle Mountain + Three Affiliated Tribes Fort Berthold + Trenton Indian Service Area tribal jurisdiction) + the substantial Grand Forks AFB OSI + Minot AFB OSI.

Sergeant / Lieutenant / Captain (Fargo metro)

$93,440–$128,430

Senior officer + sergeant at Fargo PD · ND PERS Public Safety + ND right-to-work · OT + detail

Source: BLS May 2025 · First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives · Fargo, ND-MN · middle 50%

Senior Patrol / Specialty Officer

$78,050–$91,440

Senior trooper at NDHP · Special Operations + K-9 + I-94 + I-29 interstate + Bakken patrol · NDHP Retirement

Source: BLS May 2025 · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · North Dakota · 75th–90th percentile

Detective / Investigator

$62,200–$106,330

Senior detective at Fargo PD + NDHP + Bismarck PD + Williston PD · investigations + casework + ND PERS

Source: BLS May 2025 · Detectives and Criminal Investigators · North Dakota · middle 50%

Patrol Officer / Trooper / Deputy

$62,670–$78,050

Mid-career officer · ND PERS Public Safety membership · ND POST Peace Officer Standards & Training certified

Source: BLS May 2025 · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · North Dakota · middle 50%

Recruit / Probationary Officer

$58,620–$62,670

New officer · post-academy + field training · ND POST certified · ND PERS at hire

Source: BLS May 2025 · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · North Dakota · 10th–25th percentile

Worth knowing: North Dakota PERS Public Safety + Highway Patrol Retirement System NDHP + ND IS a Right-to-Work state + Standing Rock + Fort Berthold + Spirit Lake + Turtle Mountain BIA federal jurisdiction + Williston Bakken oil boom recruitment premium is the structural foundation of ND career police compensation and a distinctive ND police officer feature most national surveys understate. ND PERS Public Safety + NDHP Retirement (the ND statewide public pension covering ~50K active + retired PERS members + the substantial ND PERS Public Safety classification for law enforcement + firefighters + corrections + the substantial NDHP Retirement Highway Patrol separate plan + the substantial ND PERS defined-benefit + the substantial post-2024 ND PERS reform Defined Contribution for new state-employee hires) provides protective service pension at ND public-safety formula appreciably more generous than ND PERS General — supporting career police retirement after 20-25 years. ND IS a Right-to-Work state (signed 1947 + one of the original 19 US RTW states) — meaning collective bargaining for public-sector employees is significantly limited; the substantial ND Fraternal Order of Police FOP + Fargo Police Officers Association + the substantial ND Peace Officers Association + the substantial ND POST Peace Officer Standards & Training certification operate via professional associations rather than formal collective bargaining. Williston PD Bakken oil boom recruitment premium (the substantial post-2010 Williston Bakken oil boom recruitment crisis + the substantial Williston PD 2012-2014 $80K+ entry salaries to compete with oilfield wages + the substantial post-2014 Williston oil bust + the substantial post-2020 Williston Bakken recovery + the substantial Williston PD recruitment + retention hazard premium + the substantial Williston PD post-2024 oil + gas executive market) supports a unique ND police specialty — Williston Bakken senior officers clear $72-108K + OT during the substantial Bakken peak production. Standing Rock + Spirit Lake + Turtle Mountain + Three Affiliated Tribes Fort Berthold + Trenton Indian Service Area tribal lands (BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs federal law enforcement jurisdiction + the substantial BIA Standing Rock officer cluster + the substantial Standing Rock post-2016-2017 DAPL protest reform + the substantial BIA officers covering vast tribal land) supports unique ND BIA federal officer specialty — senior BIA officers clear $72-118K + OT with GS-9 + GS-11 federal LEAP pay. Grand Forks AFB OSI + Minot AFB OSI (the substantial GFAFB OSI Global Hawk counterintelligence + the substantial Minot AFB OSI B-52 + Minuteman III nuclear weapons counterintelligence + the substantial Minot AFB nuclear weapons security forces) support specialized ND federal cleared LE work. Post-2020 Fargo + Bismarck + Grand Forks recruitment + retention challenges drove substantial signing bonus + retention bonus + lateral transfer incentives — Fargo PD post-2022 offered $10K-$15K lateral signing bonuses to certified officers. The 2025 No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies through 2028 — ND OBBBA OT applies to officer overtime + detail . ND progressive 0%/1.95%/2.5% + ND 5% sales tax + ND NO estate tax + ND IS a Right-to-Work state + ND PERS Public Safety + NDHP Retirement + BIA federal jurisdiction + Williston Bakken premium anchor the ND police officer proposition.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Police Officers in North Dakota and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and North Dakota 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.

Run your own numbers

North Dakota paycheck calculator → · 401(k), HSA, dependents
No Tax on Overtime calculator → · up to $12,500 off federal tax
1099 tax calculator → · self-employment tax 15.3%
Bonus calculator → · year-end, sign-on, retention

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