Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,190 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Fargo earn between $48,240 and $77,930.
- $42K10th
- $48K25th
- $54KMedian
- $78K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,400 | $5,200 | $30.00 |
| Median | $54,390 | $4,532 | $26.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,240 | $4,020 | $23.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,930 | $6,494 | $37.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Fargo earn 9% less than the North Dakota average ($68,520) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $62,400 | $54,390 | $42,010 | $85,190 | 40 |
| North Dakota | $68,520 | $74,740 | $48,240 | $85,190 | 100 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Fargo
On the average salary of $62,400, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $52,318 a year, or $4,360 a month and $2,012 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Fargo, ND-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in ND | $52,318 | $4,360 |
| Working in MN | $49,599 | $4,133 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fargo area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.9), so the average $62,400 buys what about $68,669 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in nearby metro areas
- St. Cloud, MN$60,980
- Minneapolis, MN$67,570
- Duluth, MN$61,210
- Sioux Falls, SD$48,710
- Mankato, MN$61,110
- Rochester, MN$67,020
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Fargo: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Fargo?
$30.00 an hour on average, and $26.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Fargo?
About $52,318 a year ($4,360 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,400.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.20, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.20).
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