NAICS 51

Information in Bismarck, ND

Metro Market Score 38.4 (Moderate), ranked #103 of 294 metros. 127 establishments, 710 jobs.

Metro Market Score 38.4

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

Bismarck pairs above-average information concentration (59.5) with positive employment growth (trend: 63.6). The market is competitive but still expanding, leaving room for well-positioned new entrants.

Industry Concentration

59.5

LQ: 0.53

Rank #175 of 294 metros

Wage Competitiveness

36.4

$70,177 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 63.6

Employment growth index

Rank #108 of 294 metros

Wage Pressure

17.4

YoY wage change index

127 Information Firms in Bismarck

127

Establishments

+14.4% YoY

710

Total Employment

+0.0% YoY

$70,177

Average Annual Wage

+0.0% YoY

0.53

Location Quotient

Below national avg

Within North Dakota

#1 of 3

information metros in state

North Dakota state rank

#1 of 51

for information entry risk

vs State Median

-24.2

better than median (62.6)

Bismarck vs North Dakota Statewide

How this metro's information market compares to North Dakota overall. The state ranks #1/51 for entry risk.

Measure	Bismarck	ND Statewide
Overall Score	38.4 Moderate	28.8 Low
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#103 of 294 metros	#1 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Bismarck

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 30.1 Finance and Insurance 57.3

Information in Other North Dakota Metros

Grand Forks 62.6 #251/294 Fargo 71.5 #281/294

Information Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Bismarck's 38.4 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Kingsport-Bristol, TN 38.7 #104/294 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY 38.7 #105/294 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI 38.8 #106/294 Tyler, TX 38.8 #107/294 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC 37.9 #102/294 Joplin, MO 37.7 #101/294 Idaho Falls, ID 39.2 #108/294 Wichita, KS 39.3 #109/294 Huntsville, AL 39.3 #110/294 St. George, UT 39.6 #111/294

Information in States Bordering North Dakota

State-level entry risk for information in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Montana 33.2 #7/51 South Dakota 33.6 #8/51 Minnesota 42.6 #22/51

Browse Information in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for information across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Bismarck's information sector, the industry concentration component (59.5) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Bismarck, ND MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment