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Trade Schools in North Dakota

Two paths into the skilled trades in North Dakota. Compare both before you commit.

Path 1 · Trade School

64 programs

at 14 North Dakota schools · pay tuition, finish faster

Top-paying program

$89,460/yr

Electrical Engineering Technology · Bismarck State College

Avg grad earnings

$46,345/yr

first year after graduation

Browse programs ↓

Path 2 · Apprenticeship

17 trades

149 registered sponsors · get paid to learn

Top-paying trade

$66,770/yr

HVAC Technician · median wage

Avg median wage

$62,240/yr

across all apprenticeable trades

See North Dakota apprenticeships →

Apprenticeship Trades in North Dakota

Earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship pathways available in North Dakota, sorted by median wage. Click any trade to see North Dakota-specific sponsors and live openings.

Trade	Median Wage	vs. National	Employment
Electrical Power-Line Worker	$97,460	+5%	670
Sheet Metal Worker	$78,910	+30%	380
HVAC Technician	$66,770	+12%	1,100
Electrician	$65,820	+6%	3,150
Industrial Machinery Mechanic	$65,070	+2%	2,760
Diesel Mechanic	$63,430	+5%	1,540
Plumber & Pipefitter	$62,670	—	1,650
Glazier	$60,780	+10%	180
Welder	$60,270	+18%	2,720
Bricklayer & Blockmason	$60,260	-1%	240
Carpenter	$58,390	-2%	2,830
Machinist	$58,110	+3%	500
Construction Painter	$57,390	+18%	460
Firefighter	$53,660	-10%	750
Automotive Mechanic	$51,400	+3%	1,850
Insulation Worker	$49,860	+2%	240
Roofer	$47,840	-6%	310

See the full North Dakota apprenticeship picture — sponsors + live openings →

Browse by City in North Dakota

Narrow to your metro — each city page shows local trade schools, programs, and (where available) apprenticeship listings.

Fargo

5 schools

Trade School Programs in North Dakota

Most common skilled trade programs at North Dakota trade schools. Pick a trade to compare programs.

Vehicle Repair Technology

2 schools in ND

$50,484/yr avg grad

Welding & Metalworking

2 schools in ND

$48,740/yr avg grad

Electrical Installation

1 school in ND

$52,959/yr avg grad

Highest-paying trade program in North Dakota: Electrical Installation at Bismarck State College — $57,065/yr first-year earnings. See full state rankings →

Browse by Category

Skilled Trades (6) Healthcare (19) Engineering & Technology (7) Criminal Justice & Public Safety (2) Personal Services (4) Business & Office (11) Agriculture & Natural Resources (3) Education (3) Arts & Design (1) Other Programs (8)

Skilled Trades (6 programs)

▶

Program	School	Score	Earnings
Electrical Installation	Bismarck State College Bismarck	80	$48,853/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology	Bismarck State College Bismarck	74	$44,309/yr
Electrical Installation	Bismarck State College Bismarck	73	$57,065/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	70	$56,659/yr
Welding & Metalworking	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	63	$51,647/yr
Welding & Metalworking	Lynnes Welding Training Fargo	56	$45,833/yr

Healthcare (19 programs)

▶

Program	School	Score	Earnings
Practical Nursing	Bismarck State College Bismarck	84	$61,629/yr
Practical Nursing	Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau	84	$60,969/yr
Nursing	Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau	82	$71,421/yr
Nursing	Lake Region State College Devils Lake	82	$68,214/yr
Nursing	Bismarck State College Bismarck	81	$66,335/yr
Nursing	Williston State College Williston	79	$60,944/yr
Nursing	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	78	$59,229/yr
Nursing	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	72	$68,119/yr
Practical Nursing	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	70	$41,956/yr
Practical Nursing	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	69	$45,271/yr
Clinical Laboratory Science	University of North Dakota Grand Forks	67	$65,073/yr
Health Administration	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	63	$39,372/yr
Health Administration	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	63	$33,372/yr
Dental Assisting	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	60	$48,565/yr
Allied Health Professions	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	57	$51,036/yr
Medical Assisting	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	54	$35,350/yr
Medical Assisting	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	53	$29,532/yr
Clinical Laboratory Science	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	52	$43,637/yr
Massage Therapy	The Salon Professional Academy-Fargo Fargo	41	$24,541/yr

Engineering & Technology (7 programs)

▶

Program	School	Score	Earnings
Industrial Production Technology	Bismarck State College Bismarck	74	$82,310/yr
Electrical Engineering Technology	Bismarck State College Bismarck	70	$89,460/yr
Electromechanical Technology	Bismarck State College Bismarck	70	$77,701/yr
Industrial Production Technology	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	63	$59,489/yr
IT Management	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	61	$42,043/yr
Environmental Technology	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	58	$50,780/yr
Electrical Engineering Technology	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	58	$45,253/yr

Criminal Justice & Public Safety (2 programs)

▶

Program	School	Score	Earnings
Criminal Justice	Lake Region State College Devils Lake	87	$57,765/yr
Criminal Justice	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	67	$47,447/yr

Personal Services (4 programs)

▶

Program	School	Score	Earnings
Cosmetology	The Salon Professional Academy-Fargo Fargo	50	$29,330/yr
Cosmetology	The Hair Academy Bismarck	50	$29,327/yr
Cosmetology	Josef's School of Hair Skin & Body-Grand Forks Grand Forks	49	$28,331/yr
Cosmetology	Josef's School of Hair Skin & Body-Fargo Fargo	49	$28,331/yr

Business & Office (11 programs)

▶

Program	School	Score	Earnings
Sales & Marketing	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo	78	$55,734/yr
Business Administration	Williston State College Williston	70	$36,138/yr
Accounting	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	69	$47,506/yr
Business Administration	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	69	$43,736/yr
Business	Bismarck State College Bismarck	69	$36,062/yr
Business Administration	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	66	$31,594/yr
Accounting	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	62	$43,765/yr
Human Resources	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	61	$45,969/yr
Business Operations Support	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	58	$32,345/yr
Marketing	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	56	$44,293/yr
Management Information Systems	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	48	$46,337/yr

Agriculture & Natural Resources (3 programs)

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Program	School	Score	Earnings
Agricultural Business	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	72	$48,646/yr
Agricultural Business	Bismarck State College Bismarck	71	$38,623/yr
Agricultural Mechanization	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	64	$62,531/yr

Education (3 programs)

▶

Program	School	Score	Earnings
Subject-Area Teaching	Valley City State University Valley City	74	$44,886/yr
Teacher Education	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	56	$28,038/yr
Teacher Education	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	53	$28,337/yr

Arts & Design (1 programs)

▶

Program	School	Score	Earnings
Design	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	43	$32,246/yr

Other Programs (8 programs)

▶

Program	School	Score	Earnings
Computer Engineering	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	60	$48,263/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities	Bismarck State College Bismarck	50	$33,358/yr
Legal Support Services	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	49	$40,492/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities	Williston State College Williston	48	$31,871/yr
Human Services	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	44	$33,870/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton	43	$31,521/yr
Legal Support Services	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo	41	$34,421/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities	Lake Region State College Devils Lake	35	$19,014/yr

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Sources & Methodology

Program data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (first-year graduate earnings from IRS tax data). Wage and growth projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2024) and Employment Projections 2024–2034. Apprenticeship data: U.S. Department of Labor RAPIDS database and the ApprenticeshipUSA sponsor directory.

Programs on this page are grouped by field of study — Skilled Trades listed first, followed by health sciences, business, and other categories. Click any program for detailed earnings projections and AI-risk analysis by career path.

Data sources cited above. Last updated 2026.