North Dakota Teaching Salaries and Benefits
North Dakota’s median teacher salary ranges from $59,420 for kindergarten teachers to $61,210 for high school teachers, according to May 2025 BLS data. Beyond salary, most districts offer teachers health insurance through the state’s NDPERS group plans, and every teacher is enrolled in the Teachers’ Fund for Retirement (TFFR), a defined benefit pension plan that pays a fixed monthly benefit for life.
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North Dakota gives teachers two things many private-sector employees have lost in recent years: access to group health coverage through the state’s NDPERS plans, and a guaranteed pension. Every North Dakota teacher is enrolled in a defined benefit pension that pays a fixed monthly retirement income for life, and most districts also participate in NDPERS group health insurance. This guide covers what North Dakota teachers earn by grade level, how the job market looks through 2034, and exactly how the state’s retirement and health benefits work.
Learn more about becoming a teacher. Contact schools offering teacher education/certification programs in North Dakota.
North Dakota Teacher Salaries by Grade Level
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Dakota teacher pay in May 2025 varied by grade level, with median annual wages ranging from about $59,400 to $61,200. The gap between the median and the 90th percentile in each category is largely a function of years of experience and advanced degrees, the same factors that move a teacher up the steps and lanes on a district salary schedule.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | 90th Percentile Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $59,420 | $77,890 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $60,030 | $75,990 |
| Middle School Teachers | $60,100 | $79,760 |
| High School Teachers | $61,210 | $81,310 |
The BLS counted 4,430 elementary school teachers, 1,400 middle school teachers, 3,070 high school teachers, and 600 kindergarten teachers working in North Dakota as of May 2025. Teachers who reach the 90th percentile in each category typically hold a master’s degree and have accumulated well over a decade of classroom experience, the same combination that moves a teacher up the lane and step structure on most North Dakota district salary schedules. Moving into school leadership is another route to higher pay. North Dakota principal certification requires additional coursework and licensure, but administrator pay typically exceeds classroom teacher salaries at every experience level.
Job Outlook for North Dakota Teachers Through 2034
Nationally, the BLS projects a slight decline in employment for kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers between 2024 and 2034. North Dakota bucks that trend across every one of these categories.
| Occupation | Projected Change (2024-2034) | Avg. Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | +6.4% | 60 |
| Elementary School Teachers | +6.0% | 310 |
| Middle School Teachers | +5.9% | 110 |
| High School Teachers | +6.2% | 180 |
Compare that to the national picture, where the BLS projects elementary school teacher employment to shrink 2.0% and high school teacher employment to shrink 1.6% over the same decade. North Dakota’s growth works in a new teacher’s favor: more open positions competing for a smaller pool of licensed candidates statewide. If you’re already certified in another state, North Dakota’s teacher reciprocity agreements can shorten the path to an ND license considerably.
Retiring in North Dakota
As a teacher in North Dakota, you enter a retirement plan through the Teachers’ Fund for Retirement (TFFR) upon employment. The TFFR is a defined benefit plan that provides teachers with lifetime monthly pension benefits upon retirement.
You currently contribute 11.75% of your salary while your employer contributes an additional 12.75% to the pension account. Those rates are higher than the plan’s base 7.75% rate for both members and employers, and state law keeps them elevated until TFFR reaches full actuarial funding, currently projected for 2042. Once that happens, both rates are scheduled to drop back to 7.75%.
Teachers hired since July 1, 2008 are Tier 2 members. You’re vested after five years of service, and you qualify for a full, unreduced pension at age 65 regardless of your years of service, or as early as age 60 if your age plus years of service adds up to at least 90 (the Rule of 90). You can also retire as early as age 55, but your monthly benefit is reduced by 8% for every year you retire before meeting the unreduced eligibility rules above. Teachers hired before July 1, 2008, fall under Tier 1, which carries different vesting and eligibility rules depending on when they joined.
Once you qualify to retire, you start receiving a monthly payment determined by a formula that takes into account your years of service and final average salary:
Final Average Salary multiplied by Years of Service multiplied by 2%
For Tier 2 members, Final Average Salary is based on your highest five fiscal years of reported salary, not your last paycheck. For example, if your highest five years averaged $60,000 and you worked 25 years, your annual pension would be $30,000, or $2,500 a month.
To learn more about how you can personalize your retirement plan in North Dakota, contact the Teachers’ Fund for Retirement.
Access to Affordable Health Insurance
North Dakota school districts and other political subdivisions can choose to offer their employees health coverage through NDPERS, the same state group plan system used by state agencies. Most public school districts participate, giving teachers access to a PPO-style plan (the Dakota Plan) and a high deductible health plan paired with a health savings account.
The major differences between each plan come down to the price of the premium, the amount of the deductible, and the out-of-network expenses. However, both plans cover a portion of most medical services, including:
- Home and Office Visits
- Surgical Services
- Diagnostic Services
- Well Child Care
- Routine Screenings
- Nutritional Counseling
- Maternity Services
Because coverage is elected district by district rather than guaranteed statewide, plan availability and cost-sharing can vary depending on where you teach. Many districts also offer additional benefits like dental, vision, and long-term care insurance, though these are typically voluntary and require separate enrollment.
If you’re interested in learning more about the health insurance benefits available for North Dakota teachers, contact your local school district or NDPERS.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do teachers make in North Dakota?
North Dakota teacher pay depends on grade level. The BLS reported median annual wages of $59,420 for kindergarten teachers, $60,030 for elementary teachers, $60,100 for middle school teachers, and $61,210 for high school teachers as of May 2025. Teachers with a master’s degree and more years of experience typically earn closer to the 90th percentile, which tops $75,000 to $81,000 depending on grade level.
What retirement benefits do North Dakota teachers receive?
North Dakota teachers are automatically enrolled in the Teachers’ Fund for Retirement (TFFR), a defined benefit pension plan. Teachers currently contribute 11.75% of their salary, and employers contribute 12.75%, and the plan pays a lifetime monthly benefit based on final average salary and years of service. Teachers hired since July 1, 2008 (Tier 2) are vested after five years and qualify for a full benefit at age 65, or age 60 with the Rule of 90.
Do North Dakota teachers get health insurance?
Most do, though coverage isn’t automatically guaranteed statewide. School districts individually choose whether to participate in NDPERS, the state’s group health plan system, and most districts do. Where a district participates, teachers can choose between a PPO-style plan and a high-deductible health plan, both covering services like office visits, surgical care, and maternity services. Optional dental, vision, and long-term care coverage is also typically available.
Is teacher demand growing in North Dakota?
Yes. The BLS projects North Dakota teacher employment to grow between 5.9% and 6.4% across kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school roles from 2024 to 2034, even as national projections for the same roles show a slight decline. That growth means more open positions statewide over the next decade.
- Salary rises sharply with experience and education — median pay for North Dakota teachers runs $59,420 to $61,210 depending on grade level, but teachers with more experience and a master’s degree can reach the 90th percentile, topping $75,000 to $81,000.
- TFFR guarantees a lifetime pension — teachers currently contribute 11.75% of salary, employers add 12.75%, and Tier 2 members (hired since July 1, 2008) are vested after five years, with a full benefit available at age 65 or age 60 with the Rule of 90.
- Health coverage depends on your district — most North Dakota school districts participate in NDPERS group health plans, offering a choice of a PPO-style plan or a high-deductible health plan, plus optional dental, vision, and long-term care coverage, but participation isn’t guaranteed statewide.
- Job growth outpaces the national trend — North Dakota projects 5.9% to 6.4% growth in teaching roles through 2034, while national projections for the same roles show a decline.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in North Dakota, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates and 2024-2034 employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. State or district job-growth projections are sourced separately from national BLS outlook data. Conditions vary by school sector, subject area, and district. Data accessed July 2026.
