Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,910 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Fargo earn between $22,840 and $42,740.
- $18K10th
- $23K25th
- $30KMedian
- $43K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,080 | $3,007 | $17.35 |
| Median | $30,330 | $2,528 | $14.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,840 | $1,903 | $10.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,740 | $3,562 | $20.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Fargo earn about the same as the North Dakota average ($36,250) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $36,080 | $30,330 | $18,470 | $59,910 | 2,020 |
| North Dakota | $36,250 | $30,890 | $18,470 | $60,570 | 5,250 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Fargo
On the average salary of $36,080, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $31,170 a year, or $2,598 a month and $1,199 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 | $31,170 | $2,598 |
| Working in MN | $30,059 | $2,505 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for waiters and waitresses? 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 $36,080 buys what about $39,705 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 3rd of 4 North Dakota metro areas for this job; Bismarck pays the most ($37,330).
- Bismarck$37,330
- Minot$36,310
- Fargo$36,080
- Grand Forks$33,420
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Fargo: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Fargo?
$17.34 an hour on average, and $14.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Fargo?
About $31,170 a year ($2,598 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,080.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
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 35-3031; area Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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