North Dakota lawmakers consider higher pay raises for judges than other state officials

North Dakota lawmakers are considering pay raises for top state officials, with most positions aligning with Governor Kelly Armstrong’s recommended 3% annual increase. However, the judiciary branch has requested raises that exceed the governor’s recommendation: Supreme Court justices could see 8% increases to $202,000 by 2027, and District judges would receive nearly 7% increases to $183,000. Attorney General’s salary would increase 6% to $198,000, while the Governor’s pay would rise to $168,000. Rep. Mike Nathe (R-Bismarck) supports the increases, particularly for judges, attributing the need to their recruitment challenges and the need to be competitive with private sector salaries. He asserted that many state officials are “grossly underpaid” compared to other states. The Department of Public Instruction superintendent would earn $152,500, while various commissioners would make between $143,000-$145,000 by 2027.