Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in North Dakota

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Located in the northern Midwest, North Dakota is known for its steep badlands, massive agriculture industry, and 70,000-acre Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It also goes by the nickname “The Peace Garden State” for the International Peace Garden that straddles the border between North Dakota and Canada. If you want to live somewhere with tight-knit communities and wide-open natural landscapes, you might want to move to North Dakota.

We have a guide to the best places to live in North Dakota and where you can find jobs.

But first, here are the top reasons to consider living and working in North Dakota:

If the “Peace Garden State” is calling your name, explore some of the best cities in North Dakota and the job opportunities you’ll find there.

Bismarck

Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota and the state’s most centrally located city. Residents consider Bismarck one of the best places to live in North Dakota because of its healthy economy, low crime rate, friendly people, and unique sites.

The Dakota Zoo, Lewis and Clark Riverboat Cruises, and Superslide Amusement Park are just a few of the city’s most popular attractions. The vibrant and historic downtown area is the perfect place to get a specialty burger, see live music, enjoy a local craft brew, or shop at vintage boutiques and national retailers.

What makes Bismarck one of the best cities in North Dakota? Its growing and diversified economy is fueled by several key sectors. More than 11,000 people here hold jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities. Education and health services support over 9,000 jobs. Plus, there are about 5,000 leisure and hospitality jobs here.

Find Bismarck jobs on Monster.

Fargo

Fargo is North Dakota’s largest city, with a population of over 130,000 people. Located along the border with Minnesota, Fargo is the economic center of North Dakota. But there are many other aspects to Fargo that make it one of the best cities to live in North Dakota. The Fargo Air Museum, West Acres Shopping Center, and Thunder Road Amusement Park are just a few of the amenities that residents love. When you visit downtown, you’ll find everything you want from a big city. Try ordering a woodfire pizza or poke bowl. Then catch a live musical performance or visit one of the many boutiques here that sell vintage wares.

Best of all, the economy is booming in Fargo, with potential job growth of more than 38% over the next 10 years. Currently, Sanford Health, Essentia Health, and Humana support thousands of healthcare jobs. North Dakota State University and the Fargo Public School District are among Fargo’s leading employers, making the city an ideal place to find jobs in education and higher ed. Other thriving sectors here include manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and software development.

Find Fargo jobs on Monster.

Grand Forks

There are many reasons why Grand Forks is among the best places to live in North Dakota. For starters, residents here prefer the blend of urban life and small-town living to living in the big city. Plus, Grand Forks is only an hour and a half up the road from Fargo. Since undergoing revitalization in the 1990s, downtown Grand Forks has become a hot spot for public art, dining, shopping, and entertainment. If you live and work in Grand Forks, you’ll never get bored. You can browse the galleries at the North Dakota Museum of Art, go sightseeing at Japanese Gardens, or catch a concert at Alerus Center.

Grand Forks also boasts a strong economy comprising several different sectors. The greater Grand Forks area has some of the richest farmland in America, making it a hub for agriculture. Grand Forks is home to the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Services, which supports the city’s biomedical sector. There are also tons of job opportunities in the energy, manufacturing, and technology industries.

Find Grand Forks jobs on Monster.

Minot

Minot is located in northern North Dakota and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Minot is one of the best places to live in North Dakota for people who want to live in a small-town surrounded by vast wilderness. While the downtown area is small, it still offers all the amenities you would find in a bigger city. You can find a wide variety of dining, from all-American to Thai. Plus, you can find plenty of boutiques and local retailers to satisfy your shopping needs. In your free time, be sure to check out its landmark attractions such as the Scandinavian Heritage Park and the Dakota Territory Air Museum.

If you’re looking for work in Minot, look no further than the city’s leading industries. Agriculture is a particularly strong performer here because of the wide-open farmland that surrounds the city, as well as its prime hunting and fishing locations. The logistics and transportation industry is big in Minot because it’s close to a railroad system and major highways. Minot is also home to some of the world’s largest petroleum companies, such as Hess, Enbridge, and Baker Hughes. So, consider finding jobs in energy here.

Find Minot jobs on Monster.

Plan Your Move to North Dakota by Connecting With Employers

Now that you know where to find the best places to live in North Dakota, Monster can help you start your job search. Just set up your profile today and get your resume seen by job recruiters in North Dakota. Plus, you can be among the first to apply for jobs when you receive our free job alerts, customized to your career.