$120,000 in North Dakota
Household income percentile, occupation comparison, and lifestyle context for North Dakota.
Occupations near $120,000 (single earner)
BLS national median wages within ±15% of $120,000 — gives texture for which careers and seniorities land at this income level.
| Occupation | Stage | National wage |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | senior | $121,000 |
| Pharmacist | entry-level | $113,000 |
| Data scientist | mid-career | $108,020 |
| Accountant | senior | $132,000 |
| Civil engineer | senior | $133,000 |
| Plumber | senior | $107,000 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. National medians; metro/state variance can be ±30%. Career stage estimates: entry ≈ 25th pct, senior ≈ 75th pct of the same SOC code.
Single earner vs two-earner household
One earner pulling $120,000 typically means a registered nurse or comparable role. Above-median earner status in North Dakota.
Two earners at $60,000 each combined = $120,000. Each individual is below median individually, but the household lands at the same percentile as a single $120,000 earner.
Lifestyle context — rent burden in North Dakota
At $120,000 gross, statewide median rent eats 9% of income — inside the affordable band. Metro areas (LA, SF, NYC, Boston, Seattle) typically run 30-50% above the statewide median.
Home affordability at $120,000
Using the 28% rule on a 30-year mortgage, $120,000 gross supports a home purchase up to about $323,775. North Dakota median home value is $232,500 — you can afford 139% of the median home, so buying statewide is realistic.
How $120,000 ranks in neighboring states
State-adjusted percentile shows the same income placed in North Dakota's contiguous neighbors. Relevant for relocation, remote-work geography, or border-town decisions.
| State | Median HH | % vs median | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota (current) | $76,525 | +57% | 70th |
| South Dakota | $71,722 | +67% | 72th |
| Montana | $72,980 | +64% | 71th |
| Minnesota | $87,556 | +37% | 64th |
$120,000 ranks similarly in
Other incomes in North Dakota
Common questions
- Is $120,000 a good household income in North Dakota?
- It's at roughly the 70th percentile for North Dakota after adjusting for the state's median income ($76,525). Nationally that's about the 67th percentile. Whether "good" depends on household size, debt, and metro cost of living — Census medians smooth over big within-state variation.
- How does $120,000 compare to the North Dakota median?
- It's 57% above the North Dakota median household income of $76,525 (Census ACS 2023, table B19013). Half of North Dakota households earn less than $76,525, half earn more.
- Why does this number differ from other percentile calculators?
- Two sources of variation: (1) some calculators use individual income, not household — household income is typically higher because it combines earners. (2) Some use single-year ACS, others use 5-year averages. We use ACS 2023 1-year B19080 for the national distribution and adjust by state median ratio.
Full data sources and formulas: /sources.