North Dakota Teaching Salaries and Benefits
Health care costs have increased by over 30% in the last decade, according to a study by Kaiser Permanante. As health insurance premiums continue to rise, more companies are cutting back on benefits like health insurance, no longer guaranteeing comprehensive coverage for their employees.
However, if you’re a teacher in North Dakota, the state still ensures you are provided with a complete benefits package that includes affordable health insurance. In addition to these health benefits, North Dakota teachers also enjoy a statewide retirement program that allows them to plan ahead for their future lives.
Sponsored School(s)
Learn more about becoming a teacher. Contact schools offering teacher education/certification programs in North Dakota.
Teacher Salaries in North Dakota by Education
As teachers further their educations and gain experience in the field, they receive pay increases that reflect their dedication and hard work. Salaries vary between school districts, but the following are some examples of the salaries you can expect in North Dakota:
| Experience | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| At 3 years | $39,349 | $44,338 |
| At 6 years | $41,447 | $46,547 |
| At 9 years | $43,346 | $48,755 |
| At 12 years | $46,674 | $50,962 |
Source: Bismark Public Schools
Retiring in North Dakota
As a teacher in North Dakota, you enter into 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.
Under the plan, you contribute 9.75% of your salary while your employer contributes an additional 10.75% to the pension account. Your contributions help fund the pension plan, guaranteeing monthly benefits for you and other retired teachers in the future.
To qualify for this pension plan, you must first meet the following requirements:
- Age 65 with five years of service
- Rule of 90 (your age and service years must add up to 90)
Once you qualify to retire, you start receiving a monthly payment that is 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 example, if your final monthly salary averaged to $2,000 and you worked 25 years, your retirement pension would be $1,000 every 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
To provide public teachers opportunities to receive quality health care at a competitive price, North Dakota offers them a variety of health insurance options. These options include a PPO health insurance plan and a high deductible health plan.
Major differences of each plan include the price of the premium, the amount of the deductible, and the out-of-network expenses.
However, both of these plans will 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
To ensure the wellbeing of employees and their families, North Dakota also offers additional benefits like dental, vision, and long-term care insurance plans. Most of these benefits are voluntary and you will have to sign up to participate.
If you’re interested in learning more about all of the health insurance benefits available for North Dakota teachers, contact your local school district or the state of North Dakota.
