These Are The 10 Hardest Working Places In North Dakota

Discover the 10 Hardest Working Places in North Dakota for 2026

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North Dakota has long been recognized as a land of opportunity, where dedication and hard work can lead to a better life for individuals and families. In 2026, this sentiment remains strong, with many communities in the Peace Garden State exemplifying a robust work ethic.

Among these communities, Minot Air Force Base stands out as the hardest working location in North Dakota. The residents there demonstrate an impressive commitment to their jobs, making the commute an integral part of their work experience.

Curious about which other North Dakota towns are known for their dedication and long hours? Here’s a look at the top contenders for the hardest working locales in the state — places where employees certainly go the extra mile to achieve success:

Grafton residents, take note! There’s much to learn from the work ethic exhibited across the state.

For more insights into North Dakota’s job market, check out:

How We Determined the Hardest Working Places in North Dakota

At Zippia, we rely on data-driven insights to tackle challenging questions. In our quest to identify the hardest working places in North Dakota, we utilized the most recent American Community Survey data.

We analyzed key metrics to determine hard work levels across various North Dakota locations, including:

Average hours worked
Average commute time
Workers per household (employed labor force divided by the number of households)
Labor force participation rate
Percentage of adults with a college degree

Our approach was straightforward: if individuals are investing years in education, actively seeking employment, logging extensive hours, and commuting significant distances, they earn the Zippia stamp of hard work.

After gathering data from numerous locations in North Dakota, we ranked each based on the criteria mentioned, with a lower score indicating a higher level of effort. Ultimately, Minot AFB emerged as the top contender for the hardest working place in the state.

Explore the detailed chart below to see how each locality ranked and the reasons behind their positions.

1. Minot AFB

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 5,813 College Graduates: 27.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 44.2 Workers Per Household: 2.2

2. Horace

Population: 2,502 College Graduates: 39.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.3 Workers Per Household: 1.7

3. West Fargo

Population: 28,371 College Graduates: 35.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.6 Workers Per Household: 1.5

4. Dickinson

Population: 19,920 College Graduates: 25.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 42.5 Workers Per Household: 1.5

5. Watford City

Population: 2,738 College Graduates: 23.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 47.4 Workers Per Household: 1.3

6. Williston

Population: 19,849 College Graduates: 19.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 46.5 Workers Per Household: 1.4

7. Minot

Population: 44,533 College Graduates: 26.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 41.4 Workers Per Household: 1.4

8. Casselton

Population: 2,434 College Graduates: 32.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.4 Workers Per Household: 1.4

9. Bismarck

Population: 65,123 College Graduates: 34.0%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.7 Workers Per Household: 1.3

10. Grand Forks AFB

Population: 2,387 College Graduates: 29.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 42.2 Workers Per Household: 2.4

Detailed List of Hardest Working Places in North Dakota

City	Rank	Population	College Graduates	Average Hours Worked Per Week	Workers Per Household
Minot AFB	1	5,813	27.4%	44.2	2.2
Horace	2	2,502	39.3%	40.3	1.7
West Fargo	3	28,371	35.7%	39.6	1.5
Dickinson	4	19,920	25.2%	42.5	1.5
Watford City	5	2,738	23.6%	47.4	1.3
Williston	6	19,849	19.4%	46.5	1.4
Minot	7	44,533	26.1%	41.4	1.4
Casselton	8	2,434	32.5%	40.4	1.4
Bismarck	9	65,123	34.0%	39.7	1.3
Grand Forks AFB	10	2,387	29.1%	42.2	2.4
Lincoln	11	2,864	17.5%	40.1	1.7
New Town	12	2,210	20.1%	42.0	1.7
Mandan	13	19,381	26.2%	39.4	1.3
Fargo	14	110,725	38.6%	37.6	1.4
Bottineau	15	2,294	18.9%	41.6	1.1
Valley City	16	6,636	27.1%	38.3	1.1
Hazen	17	2,607	24.4%	37.5	1.4
Rugby	18	2,989	15.0%	44.1	1.0
Grand Forks	19	54,095	34.9%	35.4	1.4
Jamestown	20	15,407	22.8%	38.5	1.2
Devils Lake	21	7,218	19.7%	38.6	1.2
Wahpeton	22	7,804	23.7%	36.4	1.4
Lisbon	23	2,074	16.9%	39.2	1.2
Beulah	24	3,231	18.3%	37.1	1.2
Grafton	25	4,291	16.2%	37.5	1.2

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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