BISMARCK, N.D. - Wages have declined in North Dakota for the second consecutive year.
The Bismarck Tribune reports that total wages decreased 8 percent in 2016 after dropping 2 percent in 2015. The average annual wage also saw a nearly 4 percent drop to nearly $48,900 statewide.
The state's oil and gas extraction wages dropped by nearly 3 percent to an average of more than $120,400. Truck transport, petroleum and coal average wages also saw a decrease. The energy industry has the highest average wages in the state despite the drops.
In Burleigh County, the real estate and leasing industry had the biggest drop in average wages, which dropped 25 percent to more than $39,000.
Oliver County saw the highest wage average of any county in the state with more than $71,700.