Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,400 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Fargo earn between $28,640 and $35,030.
- $24K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $35K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,550 | $2,629 | $15.17 |
| Median | $29,710 | $2,476 | $14.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,640 | $2,387 | $13.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,030 | $2,919 | $16.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Fargo earn about the same as the North Dakota average ($31,850) and about the same as the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $31,550 | $29,710 | $23,840 | $38,400 | 180 |
| North Dakota | $31,850 | $30,220 | $23,060 | $38,480 | 580 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Fargo
On the average salary of $31,550, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $27,530 a year, or $2,294 a month and $1,059 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% 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 | $27,530 | $2,294 |
| Working in MN | $26,661 | $2,222 |
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, fast food? 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 $31,550 buys what about $34,720 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 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 1st of 3 North Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fargo$31,550
- Minot$31,420
- Grand Forks$30,640
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in Fargo: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Fargo?
$15.17 an hour on average, and $14.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Fargo?
About $27,530 a year ($2,294 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,550.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
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 35-2011; area Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 0.29, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.29).
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