North Dakota · 2026 take-home pay

$21 an hour after taxes in North Dakota

At $21 an hour in North Dakota you keep about $17.92 of every hour — $717 a week, $3,106 a month or $37,277 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and North Dakota income tax. North Dakota has a graduated income tax, and its minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Where $21 an hour goes

$21 an hour full time in North Dakota, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$43,680$840$21.00
Federal income tax−$3,062−$59−$1.47
Social Security (6.2%)−$2,708−$52−$1.30
Medicare (1.45%+)−$633−$12−$0.30
North Dakota income tax$0$0$0.00
Take-home pay$37,277$717$17.92

Effective tax rate 14.7% · federal bracket 12% · no North Dakota income tax at this pay.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$840.00$716.86
Every two weeks (26)$1,680.00$1,433.73
Twice a month (24)$1,820.00$1,553.20
Monthly (12)$3,640.00$3,106.41

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$21 an hour at different hours

Take-home in North Dakota for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $21 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$21 an hour in North Dakota: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$420$377$19,595
30 hours a week$630$548$28,503
40 hours a week$840$717$37,277
40 hours + 5 overtime$998$843$43,858
40 hours + 10 overtime$1,155$970$50,438

*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.

Is $21 an hour good pay in North Dakota?

  • Minimum wage: $21 an hour is 2.9 times North Dakota's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
  • Among North Dakota workers: It's about the 34th percentile of hourly pay in North Dakota (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 34 in 100 workers earn less. The median is $25.23 an hour.
  • Local prices: North Dakota's price level is 89% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $37,277 a year buys about what $41,903 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $1,092 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,553 a month for needs, $932 for wants and $621 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in North Dakota that pay about $21 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in North Dakota is within 4% of $21 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How North Dakota compares on $21 an hour

North Dakota ranks tied for 1st of 51 (with 7 others) for take-home pay on $21 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $21 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs North Dakota
North Dakota$17.92$37,277$7.25—
Minnesota$17.10$35,566$11.41−$1,711 a year
Montana$17.30$35,981$10.85−$1,296 a year
South Dakota$17.92$37,277$11.85Same

How the federal tax on $43,680 ($21 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $43,680 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $27,580. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$12,400$1,240
12%$15,180$1,822
Total$27,580$3,062

Common questions

How much is $21 an hour after taxes in North Dakota?

About $17.92 for every hour you work, or $37,277 a year at 40 hours a week ($43,680 gross). Taxes take about 14.7% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $21 an hour a week after taxes in North Dakota?

About $717 a week at 40 hours, from $840 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,434.

How much is $21 an hour a month after taxes in North Dakota?

About $3,106 a month at 40 hours a week, from $3,640 gross.

Is $21 an hour good pay in North Dakota?

$21 an hour is 2.9 times North Dakota's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. It's about the 34th percentile of hourly pay in North Dakota (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 34 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in North Dakota is $25.23. After taxes and local prices, $37,277 a year buys about what $41,903 would at national-average prices.

Is North Dakota a high-tax state for $21 an hour?

It ranks tied for 1st of 51 (with 7 others) among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $21 an hour. The most you'd keep is $37,277 a year, in 8 places including North Dakota, Florida, New Hampshire; the least, $34,254 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, North Dakota's income tax rules (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.

  1. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.