Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,620 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Fargo earn between $33,970 and $38,680.
- $29K10th
- $34K25th
- $37KMedian
- $39K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,490 | $3,124 | $18.02 |
| Median | $37,020 | $3,085 | $17.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,970 | $2,831 | $16.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,680 | $3,223 | $18.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in Fargo earn about the same as the North Dakota average ($36,690) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $37,490 | $37,020 | $28,900 | $45,620 | 1,560 |
| North Dakota | $36,690 | $36,470 | $28,850 | $45,650 | 4,490 |
| United States | $38,730 | $37,390 | $28,700 | $47,900 | 1,409,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in Fargo
On the average salary of $37,490, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $32,303 a year, or $2,692 a month and $1,242 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% 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 | $32,303 | $2,692 |
| Working in MN | $31,116 | $2,593 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for cooks, restaurant? 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 $37,490 buys what about $41,256 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 1st of 4 North Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fargo$37,490
- Bismarck$37,010
- Grand Forks$36,580
- Minot$36,310
Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).
- Kahului, HI$54,460
- San Jose, CA$49,390
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,830
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Cooks, Restaurant salary in Fargo: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Fargo?
$18.03 an hour on average, and $17.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Fargo?
About $32,303 a year ($2,692 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,490.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).
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 35-2014; area Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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