Framing Cost Calculator for North Dakota - Free 2026 Cost Estimates

Get accurate framing cost estimates using North Dakota regional pricing data. Our free calculator adjusts for local labor rates and material costs specific to ND.

North Dakota Framing Labor Costs — Verified from BLS OEWS (2025)

$27.88/hrCarpenters — mean hourly wageBLS OEWS 2025
$57,980Carpenters — mean annual wageBLS OEWS 2025
12%below national meanderived from two cited BLS figures

Every figure on this page is a published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics value. Last verified 2026-06-20.

In North Dakota, carpenters — the core trade for framing work — earn a mean wage of $27.88/hr ($57,980 per year) in the 2025 BLS OEWS release. That is 12% below the national average (national mean $65,630 per year). North Dakota employs about 2,360 carpenters statewide. Related trades that price into a typical framing job include construction laborers ($53,150/yr), first-line supervisors of construction trades ($94,560/yr). Because labor is the largest variable cost on most framing projects, these published state wage levels are the biggest single reason framing costs differ between North Dakota and other states. Every figure here is a mean value published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is refreshed automatically when BLS releases new OEWS data.

Across the trades that touch a typical framing job in North Dakota, BLS reports mean wages of carpenters at $57,980 per year ($27.88/hr); construction laborers at $53,150 per year ($25.55/hr); first-line supervisors of construction trades at $94,560 per year ($45.46/hr). The spread between first-line supervisors of construction trades ($94,560) and construction laborers ($53,150) reflects differences in skill, certification, and supervisory responsibility on North Dakota job sites, and it is why a detailed, line-item estimate beats a single blended rate when you are budgeting framing work.

Half of North Dakota carpenters earn less than the median of $57,890 per year — below the $57,980 mean, which a smaller number of higher earners pulls upward. For budgeting, the median is often the more realistic figure for routine framing crews. BLS counts roughly 2,360 carpenters, 5,050 construction laborers, 4,350 first-line supervisors of construction trades employed across North Dakota, a measure of how deep the local framing-trade labor pool is and how much competition for crews you can expect when scheduling work.

When you budget a framing job in North Dakota, treat these BLS wage levels as the labor-rate floor: a crew's billed rate adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin on top of the $27.88/hr mean wage shown above. Because North Dakota's carpenters wages sit 12% below the national average, a framing quote that comes in far below these published rates is worth a second look — labor that cheap usually signals a different scope, materials, or crew experience. Use the calculator on this page to combine these North Dakota labor rates with your project's material quantities for a complete estimate.

North Dakota construction wages by occupation — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
Occupation (SOC)Mean hourlyMean annualMedian annualEmployed in ND
Carpenters 47-2031$27.88/hr$57,980$57,8902,360
Construction Laborers 47-2061$25.55/hr$53,150$49,0705,050
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades 47-1011$45.46/hr$94,560$81,3704,350

Wages are statewide means published by BLS and reflect labor cost only — not the total installed cost of a project. Use the calculator below for a full materials-and-labor estimate, and always obtain written bids from licensed North Dakota contractors.

Calculate Your Framing Costs in North Dakota

Our free framing calculator provides detailed estimates tailored to North Dakota pricing. Enter your project dimensions and specifications to get an instant breakdown of materials, labor, and total costs.

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Sources & Methodology

These figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — the official federal wage survey — for the 2025 reference release, the latest available. Wages shown are statewide mean values for North Dakota; actual pay varies by metro area, employer, union status, and experience. CostFlowAI re-checks the BLS public API on a quarterly recheck cadence and stamps each figure with the date it was last verified (2026-06-20). We publish the exact BLS series ID behind every number so any figure on this page can be independently confirmed at the source.

BLS series IDs behind every figure on this page12

Each ID resolves to the live U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics public-API record for that exact figure.

Frequently Asked Questions: Framing in North Dakota

What do framing crews cost in North Dakota in 2026?

Carpenters — the core framing trade — earn a mean wage of $27.88/hr ($57,980 per year) in North Dakota, per 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data, 12% below the national average. Labor is the largest variable cost on most framing jobs, so this is the single biggest driver of how North Dakota framing pricing compares with other states. Use the free framing calculator on this page for a full materials-and-labor estimate for your specific project.

Do I need a permit for framing work in North Dakota?

Permit requirements for framing work in North Dakota vary by municipality and project scope. Most cities and counties in North Dakota require building permits for structural work and projects exceeding certain cost thresholds. Contact your local North Dakota building department for specific requirements — always verify before starting work.

What factors affect framing costs in North Dakota?

Key factors include local labor rates (carpenters average $27.88/hr in North Dakota per BLS OEWS), material availability and regional pricing, permit and inspection fees, site conditions specific to North Dakota, and project complexity. Wages are the largest variable cost on most framing jobs, which is why North Dakota pricing tracks its published trade-wage levels. Getting multiple written quotes from licensed North Dakota contractors is recommended for the most accurate pricing.

What This Estimate Includes

  • Materials: lumber, studs, plates, headers, fasteners at regional pricing
  • Labor: Carpenters in North Dakota earn a mean wage of $27.88/hr (BLS OEWS 2025)
  • Waste factor: 10% standard waste allowance included

Not included: permits, demolition, site preparation beyond standard grading, inspections, or unforeseen site conditions.

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