City Town Info

Grand Forks Employment

Employment and Industries in the Grand Forks, North Dakota Area

Grand Fork's economy primarily consists of healthcare, food processing, defense, manufacturing, agriculture and scientific research. The University of North Dakota is the city's largest employer and is also a significant contributor to the economy. In addition, the Grand Forks Air Force base employs a large number of civilian workers.

Altru Health System is Grand Forks' largest private employer. Wind turbine manufacturer, LM Glasfiber and small aircraft manufacturer Cirrus Design are two of the city's largest manufacturers. Amazon.com has a customer service facility in the city and is one of the regions's major employers.

Noteworthy details regarding Grand Forks, North Dakota: For the population 25 years of age and older, 30% have earned a bachelor's degree or better. In 2008 the cost of living index in the city was at 84.3. The country's average is 100. The estimated median household income in 2007 was $41,000.

Grand Forks' significant employers:

  • University of North Dakota
  • Grand Forks Air Force Base
  • Altru Health System
  • Grand Forks Public Schools
  • Hugo's Stores
  • City of Grand Forks
  • Simplot
  • Amazon.com
  • Valley Memorial Homes
  • SEI Information
  • Alerus Financial
  • Hugo's
  • Target Corporation
  • Ecolab Inc
  • Grand Forks Herald Incorporated
  • North American Foods, LLC
  • North Dakota Mill & Elevator Association
  • Valley Markets, Incorporated
  • Pribbs Steel & Mfg, Inc
  • Coca-Cola Enterprises

Some of Grand Forks' most common jobs where the majority of the workers have college degrees include registered nurses, teachers, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, social and human service assistants; educational, vocational and school counselors; medical and health services managers, coaches and scouts, and child, family and school social workers.

The top nonagricultural employment sectors for Grand Forks:

  • Government
  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Educational and health services
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Manufacturing
  • Professional and business services

Local companies are invited to work with helpful organizations including:

The Grand Forks Herald offers information about local business and industry.

Most Popular Jobs in Grand Forks, North Dakota Metro Area (2008 data)

Where the Majority of Workers Have College Degrees

RankTitleLocal JobsLocal Mean SalaryTypical Local SalaryNational Growth % 2006-2016National % With College Degree
1Registered nurses95064,860$44,850 - 86,10024%56%
2Elementary school teachers, except special education67046,850$33,500 - 63,34014%95%
3Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education36046,110$30,700 - 63,7006%96%
4Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products36052,620$29,820 - 78,4108%51%
5Social and human service assistants32024,370$17,320 - 33,42034%58%
6Accountants and auditors22048,020$28,740 - 68,16018%79%
7Educational, vocational, and school counselors21042,590$29,330 - 60,23013%73%
8Medical and health services managers14080,650$50,060 - 122,49016%57%
9Environmental scientists and specialists, including health13076,880$50,470 - 118,21025%93%
10Coaches and scouts13040,870$19,240 - 66,90015%60%
11Child, family, and school social workers13039,230$28,320 - 53,39019%77%
12Computer programmers10049,960$33,510 - 67,0500%73%
13Mental health and substance abuse social workers10037,340$28,650 - 49,16030%77%
14Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school10050,260$35,840 - 65,12020%87%
15Librarians9046,770$29,620 - 66,3104%85%
16Pharmacists9091,910$24,790 - 130,72022%97%
17Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education9042,730$28,090 - 60,62011%95%
18Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation8044,710$27,160 - 70,1305%58%
19Financial managers8086,400$51,360 - 125,23013%60%
20Network and computer systems administrators8045,980$35,160 - 58,89027%50%
21Lawyers8090,540$43,220 - 11%99%
22Medical and public health social workers8038,170$26,700 - 50,49024%77%
23Sales managers8070,040$38,320 - 110,94010%69%
24Vocational education teachers, secondary school7048,850$36,760 - 63,6100%96%
25Education administrators, elementary and secondary school7077,380$54,770 - 105,1808%78%
26Physical therapists7063,730$46,560 - 82,78027%89%
27Graphic designers7032,510$27,270 - 41,46010%55%
28Public relations specialists7044,270$28,720 - 65,95018%81%
29Chief executives70154,410$58,240 - 2%65%
30Community and social service specialists, all other6043,170$31,130 - 65,13025%58%
31Biological technicians6030,020$21,750 - 39,85016%60%
32Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists6038,240$27,550 - 52,20018%56%
33Special education teachers, secondary school6049,590$36,140 - 63,8409%87%
34Managers, all other6066,010$32,520 - 114,1607%55%
35Civil engineers6072,240$52,760 - 91,31018%87%
36Sales and related workers, all other6036,800$19,280 - 81,66014%62%
37Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists6064,220$42,320 - 95,70016%99%
38Social workers, all other5030,370$22,030 - 39,53018%77%
39Speech-language pathologists5051,270$36,090 - 66,80011%98%
40Social and community service managers4066,520$39,180 - 115,54025%72%
41Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents4042,180$26,280 - 50,81025%67%
42Instructional coordinators4055,520$36,290 - 84,34023%79%
43Dietitians and nutritionists4052,540$29,880 - 66,3009%72%
44Medical and clinical laboratory technicians4036,280$28,090 - 47,19015%51%
45Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products4069,210$46,700 - 105,70012%51%
46Physician assistants4072,600$45,030 - 101,59027%67%
47Rehabilitation counselors3040,140$29,040 - 50,16023%73%
48Floral designers3025,140$17,050 - 33,1300%55%
49Industrial engineers3058,880$40,490 - 81,35020%74%
50Education administrators, postsecondary30109,280$58,370 - 14%78%

Where the Majority of Workers Do Not Have College Degrees

RankTitleLocal JobsLocal Mean SalaryTypical Local SalaryNational Growth % 2006-2016National % With College Degree
1Retail salespersons1,96024,160$13,750 - 40,46012%25%
2Cashiers1,46017,090$13,310 - 22,330-2%10%
3Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food1,36017,350$13,470 - 22,17018%5%
4Waiters and waitresses1,29018,660$13,270 - 32,38011%14%
5Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners1,06022,860$14,410 - 32,36015%4%
6Office clerks, general99023,710$15,380 - 31,85013%19%
7Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants98024,250$19,160 - 30,86018%7%
8Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer97033,150$21,350 - 47,84010%4%
9Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks93029,810$21,440 - 39,93013%16%
10Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand77022,970$17,170 - 30,0502%5%
11Maids and housekeeping cleaners61018,190$13,500 - 24,77013%5%
12Teacher assistants59025,440$18,080 - 32,72010%18%
13Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses56035,050$28,040 - 42,64014%7%
14Customer service representatives55026,020$20,530 - 33,41025%22%
15Home health aides55020,340$16,890 - 24,96049%7%
16Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive55029,450$22,060 - 38,5801%18%
17Receptionists and information clerks55023,920$16,730 - 31,68017%13%
18Stock clerks and order fillers53023,390$15,410 - 36,030-7%8%
19Executive secretaries and administrative assistants51036,150$26,420 - 49,62015%18%
20First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers50041,900$26,570 - 60,5206%29%
21Maintenance and repair workers, general49032,460$20,960 - 45,67010%6%
22First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers46035,070$22,660 - 51,0304%25%
23Bartenders46018,280$13,440 - 27,41011%17%
24Personal and home care aides45022,060$18,550 - 25,27051%10%
25First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers44025,800$17,870 - 36,16011%14%
26General and operations managers42090,930$44,660 - 2%48%
27Cooks, restaurant36019,870$15,170 - 25,87012%5%
28Business operations specialists, all other36049,020$24,560 - 75,79021%49%
29Child care workers34016,160$13,030 - 20,27018%15%
30Landscaping and groundskeeping workers32031,800$17,320 - 60,29018%6%
31Driver/sales workers31018,060$13,060 - 28,900-4%4%
32Truck drivers, light or delivery services31025,620$17,360 - 38,6008%4%
33Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators30038,220$27,700 - 49,6008%3%
34Carpenters29033,360$24,420 - 44,14010%6%
35Tellers27022,440$17,570 - 28,70014%16%
36Construction laborers27027,810$21,500 - 34,70011%5%
37Production workers, all other26024,040$16,300 - 32,9302%5%
38First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers25047,350$33,140 - 65,760-4%15%
39Food preparation workers24021,230$14,270 - 29,81015%7%
40Automotive service technicians and mechanics23039,230$20,310 - 60,11014%4%
41Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks23017,690$14,120 - 20,72017%14%
42Counter and rental clerks20019,280$14,570 - 24,68023%16%
43Computer support specialists20033,280$21,600 - 55,16013%43%
44Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers20031,340$21,720 - 44,130-6%14%
45Cooks, fast food19017,300$13,560 - 23,3308%5%
46First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers18049,190$33,140 - 69,8009%10%
47Police and sheriff's patrol officers18047,280$34,370 - 62,62011%33%
48Cooks, institution and cafeteria18023,030$14,820 - 31,37011%5%
49Billing and posting clerks and machine operators18028,880$21,910 - 38,4104%15%
50Gaming dealers18018,590$12,960 - 29,62024%11%
51Dishwashers17015,420$13,060 - 19,12010%3%
52Amusement and recreation attendants17017,290$14,040 - 20,51024%22%
53Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders16025,530$17,510 - 31,730-4%5%
54Electricians16043,340$28,970 - 53,9907%7%
55Food servers, nonrestaurant16020,760$16,170 - 25,95016%9%
56Parts salespersons16029,730$17,400 - 40,380-1%6%
57Security guards15023,430$16,820 - 32,24017%13%
58Postal service mail carriers150 1%11%
59Sheet metal workers14039,740$26,100 - 52,8007%4%
60Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop14015,680$12,950 - 19,66010%17%
61Bus drivers, school14034,720$21,670 - 49,0509%4%
62Medical secretaries14027,610$21,980 - 34,22017%18%
63Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers14031,420$21,980 - 45,1405%2%
64Loan officers13079,460$38,000 - 148,48012%49%
65First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers13053,440$33,630 - 79,6107%13%
66Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks13029,880$19,330 - 45,0004%6%
67Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop13018,870$13,420 - 25,95010%8%
68Cost estimators12044,810$32,960 - 65,50019%32%
69Packers and packagers, hand11017,800$13,110 - 25,280-11%3%
70Industrial machinery mechanics11040,750$32,790 - 50,2309%5%
71First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers11032,190$20,860 - 49,48013%11%
72Correctional officers and jailers11033,440$26,980 - 41,35017%11%
73Fire fighters11038,760$24,270 - 49,58012%18%
74Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors11018,530$14,150 - 23,96027%47%
75Pharmacy technicians11033,240$26,820 - 41,06032%16%
76Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists10039,140$28,630 - 50,29012%3%
77Cooks, short order10018,860$14,150 - 24,6605%5%
78First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators10047,980$30,390 - 62,92010%17%
79First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand10036,440$25,720 - 49,35013%17%
80Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters10043,340$30,870 - 60,15011%4%
81Highway maintenance workers10036,480$26,330 - 47,7509%5%
82Industrial truck and tractor operators10029,080$25,550 - 33,150-1%2%
83Medical records and health information technicians10033,920$26,130 - 43,38018%12%
84Business teachers, postsecondary10092,630$34,540 - 137,6300%0%
85File clerks90 -40%20%
86Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers9016,430$12,890 - 20,79012%6%
87Insurance sales agents9065,320$25,930 - 151,07013%45%
88Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers9051,500$32,820 - 64,7403%13%
89Painters, construction and maintenance8030,050$22,980 - 35,63012%6%
90Dental assistants8032,030$23,980 - 39,81029%9%
91Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators8038,120$25,110 - 66,2209%47%
92Eligibility interviewers, government programs8033,160$25,030 - 42,3703%38%
93Preschool teachers, except special education8028,990$20,370 - 38,52026%43%
94Stationary engineers and boiler operators80 3%10%
95Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders8033,090$27,090 - 40,800-11%4%
96Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic8029,600$26,130 - 34,900-15%0%
97Structural metal fabricators and fitters8028,420$23,220 - 32,5900%0%
98Psychiatric technicians8031,050$25,830 - 38,690-2%16%
99First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers7034,870$19,650 - 58,48016%26%
100Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines7045,510$31,140 - 61,33012%3%
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Jobs More Common Near Grand Forks Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal JobsPop. vs. Avg.*
Gaming dealers18,5901808.5
Business teachers, postsecondary92,6301005.6
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health76,8801305.3
Production workers, all other24,0402603.8
Highway maintenance workers36,4801003.6
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks17,6902303.5
Social and human service assistants24,3703203.3
Personal and home care aides22,0604503.2
Bartenders18,2804602.9
Sheet metal workers39,7401402.9
Educational, vocational, and school counselors42,5902102.8
Food servers, nonrestaurant20,7601602.7
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators38,2203002.7
Driver/sales workers18,0603102.7
Mental health and substance abuse social workers37,3401002.7
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses35,0505602.6
Coaches and scouts40,8701302.5
Parts salespersons29,7301602.4
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants24,2509802.3
Amusement and recreation attendants17,2901702.3
Maids and housekeeping cleaners18,1906102.2
Cooks, short order18,8601002.1
Home health aides20,3405502
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer33,1509702
Medical records and health information technicians33,9201001.9
First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers32,1901101.9
Child care workers16,1603401.8
Correctional officers and jailers33,4401101.8
Cooks, institution and cafeteria23,0301801.8
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers25,8004401.7
First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand36,4401001.7
Medical and health services managers80,6501401.7
Waiters and waitresses18,6601,2901.7
Cost estimators44,8101201.6
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks29,8109301.6
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders25,5301601.6
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food17,3501,3601.6
Child, family, and school social workers39,2301301.6
Teacher assistants25,4405901.6
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school50,2601001.6
Elementary school teachers, except special education46,8506701.6
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners22,8601,0601.5
Receptionists and information clerks23,9205501.5
Tellers22,4402701.5
First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators47,9801001.5
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors18,5301101.5
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers31,3402001.4
Counter and rental clerks19,2802001.4
Fire fighters38,7601101.4
Industrial machinery mechanics40,7501101.4

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Grand Forks, North Dakota Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalarySalary Index *Local Jobs
Loan officers79,4601.34130
Bus drivers, school34,7201.33140
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers31,8001.31320
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health76,8801.27130
Pharmacy technicians33,2401.18110
Coaches and scouts40,8701.14130
Teacher assistants25,4401.14590
Personal and home care aides22,0601.11450
Food preparation workers21,2301.11240
Automotive service technicians and mechanics39,2301.08230
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop18,8701.06130
Registered nurses64,8601.05950
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks29,8801.05130
Food servers, nonrestaurant20,7601.03160
Stock clerks and order fillers23,3901.02530
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive29,4501.01550
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants24,2501.01980
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food17,3501.011,360
Receptionists and information clerks23,9201550
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners22,86011,060
Waiters and waitresses18,66011,290
Cooks, fast food17,3000.99190
Retail salespersons24,1600.991,960
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders25,5300.98160
Police and sheriff's patrol officers47,2800.98180
Cooks, institution and cafeteria23,0300.97180
Parts salespersons29,7300.97160
Child, family, and school social workers39,2300.97130
Home health aides20,3400.96550
Medical and health services managers80,6500.95140
Billing and posting clerks and machine operators28,8800.95180
Sheet metal workers39,7400.95140
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand22,9700.95770
Medical secretaries27,6100.95140
Maids and housekeeping cleaners18,1900.95610
Tellers22,4400.95270
Maintenance and repair workers, general32,4600.95490
General and operations managers90,9300.94420
Bartenders18,2800.94460
Elementary school teachers, except special education46,8500.94670
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers53,4400.94130
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers31,3400.94200
Amusement and recreation attendants17,2900.94170
Office clerks, general23,7100.93990
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants36,1500.93510
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks29,8100.93930
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products52,6200.93360
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers41,9000.93500
Security guards23,4300.93150
Electricians43,3400.92160

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