2021 North Dakota Minimum Wage
The 2021 North Dakota Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2021-01-01Source: Youth Employment in North Dakota (North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2020
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2020.
| Item | 2020 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
All employees working in North Dakota, unless their position is exempted by law or administrative rule.
What changed this year, and why
The minimum wage in North Dakota for 2021 is $7.25 per hour, as published by the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights. The minimum wage applies to all employees regardless of age unless the position is exempted by law or administrative rule. North Dakota does not have a separate training wage.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in North Dakota for 2021?
- The minimum wage in North Dakota in 2021 is $7.25 per hour.
- Is there a separate training or youth wage?
- No. North Dakota does not have a training wage. The minimum wage applies to all employees regardless of age, unless exempted by law or administrative rule.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
North Dakota does not have a Training Wage.
North Dakota does not have a Training Wage.
North Dakota Minimum Wage and Work Conditions Summary Poster (North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights)
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
North Dakota law requires employers to pay overtime at one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked beyond the standard weekly threshold. A work week is defined as any seven consecutive days chosen by the employer, and overtime must be calculated on a weekly basis, not averaged over a longer pay period. Only actual hours worked count toward the overtime calculation—paid time off, holidays, and sick leave are excluded. When an employee works multiple positions for the same employer, all hours must be combined to determine whether overtime is owed. North Dakota prohibits private employers from using compensatory time in place of overtime pay for non-exempt workers. Certain employees are exempt from overtime requirements, including executive, administrative, and professional staff, agricultural workers, and some outside salespeople. Employers who fail to pay required overtime may face enforcement action by the state labor department, and employees have the right to recover unpaid wages plus interest.
Overtime pay must be paid at one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay for hours worked over forty in any work week.
North Dakota Minimum Wage and Work Conditions Summary Poster (North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
North Dakota workers with questions about the minimum wage or complaints about unpaid wages should contact the North Dakota Department of Labor, which enforces the state's minimum wage and work conditions laws. The department investigates complaints about wages that fall below $7.25 per hour and other violations of state labor law. Workers can reach the department by email at labor@nd.gov or visit the department's website at www.nd.gov/labor for information about filing a wage complaint and understanding their rights. The department's office is located at the State Capitol in Bismarck, and it serves all employees working in North Dakota. Both the email and the website provide ways for workers to get in touch without needing to visit in person. The North Dakota Department of Labor is the state agency responsible for ensuring that employers comply with the minimum wage requirements and other work condition rules outlined in the North Dakota Administrative Code and Century Code.
e-mail - labor@nd.gov web site - www.nd.gov/labor
North Dakota Minimum Wage and Work Conditions Summary Poster (North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights)
What an employer may deduct from your pay
North Dakota law restricts what employers may deduct from employee wages. Except for amounts required by state or federal law to be withheld, or where a court has ordered the employer to withhold compensation, an employer may only withhold from wages in four specific situations: advances paid to employees (other than undocumented cash), recurring deductions authorized in writing, nonrecurring deductions authorized in writing when the source is specifically cited, and nonrecurring deductions for damage, breakage, shortage, or negligence that must be authorized by the employee at the time of the deduction. This means employers cannot unilaterally reduce an employee's paycheck below the minimum wage for ordinary business expenses or losses. Any deduction that would bring wages below $7.25 per hour must fall within one of these four categories and meet the authorization requirements. Employees who believe their employer has made improper deductions should contact the North Dakota Department of Labor to file a complaint or seek guidance on their rights.
Except for those amounts that are required under state or federal law to be withheld from employee compensation or where a court has ordered the employer to withhold compensation, an employer only may withhold from the compensation due employees: 1. Advances paid to employees, other than undocumented cash. 2. A recurring deduction authorized in writing. 3. A nonrecurring deduction authorized in writing, when the source of the deduction is cited specifically. 4. A nonrecurring deduction for damage, breakage, shortage, or negligence must be authorized by the employee at the time of the deduction.
North Dakota Minimum Wage and Work Conditions Summary Poster (North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Youth Employment in North Dakota (North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights)
- Hourly
The minimum wage in North Dakota is $7.25 per hour.
Other years
Every North Dakota Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state