North Dakota Worker Rights
North Dakota follows the federal minimum wage, requires meal breaks in some situations, and handles wage and discrimination claims in one agency.
- North Dakota
Pay
- Minimum wage: $7.25, the same as federal.
- Overtime: 1.5x over 40 hours a week.
- Final pay: by the next regular payday.
- Oil field work: long shifts, remote sites and cold make fatigue and cold stress major hazards. See Cold Stress.
Breaks and leave
- Breaks: a 30-minute meal break for shifts over 5 hours when two or more employees are on duty (it can be unpaid if you’re fully relieved).
- No state paid sick leave law.
Unions and right-to-work
North Dakota is a right-to-work state: a union contract can’t require you to join a union or pay dues or fees to keep your job. You still have the right to organize and act together with coworkers under federal law. See Right-to-Work States.
Where to file
- Unpaid wages and overtime: North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights.
- Discrimination and harassment: North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights, or the U.S. EEOC.
- Safety: Federal OSHA covers private employers. See Federal OSHA States.
- Work injuries: report the injury to your employer right away, in writing, and follow up with North Dakota’s workers’ compensation agency. See Workers’ Compensation.
Check current rules: this is a summary. Wage rates and labor laws change often, usually on January 1 or July 1, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm details with the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights before acting. Federal protections apply too. See Where to Get Help.
Standards & references
Last updated: