Bartender salary in Fargo, ND-MN
Bartenders in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area earn a median of $28,390 a year ($13.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,860 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 2% lower than the North Dakota statewide median of $29,040. There are 9.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $32,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Fargo, ND-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,860 | $9.07 |
| 25th percentile | $22,540 | $10.84 |
| Median | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| 75th percentile | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,860 | $27.34 |
| Average (mean) | $32,550 | $15.65 |
Half of bartenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,365.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,182.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,091.92 |
| Weekly | $545.96 |
| Hourly | $13.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $30,180 | 1,260 |
| Bismarck, ND | $29,350 | 620 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $28,770 | 490 |
| Minot, ND | $28,610 | 340 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $27,600 | 15,370 |
| Rochester, MN | $27,000 | 940 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $25,970 | 780 |
| Mankato, MN | $24,710 | 450 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $23,540 | 1,630 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $23,130 | 1,200 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the North Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fargo, ND-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,330 | $14.58 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,120 | $19.77 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,290 | $14.56 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| Dishwasher | $31,560 | $15.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,710 | $14.29 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,390 | $26.15 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Fargo, ND-MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Fargo, ND-MN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area is $28,390 a year, or $13.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Fargo, ND-MN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area earn at least $56,860 a year. The top 25% earn $35,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Fargo, ND-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,860 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $22,540 or less.
How many bartenders work in Fargo, ND-MN?
About 1,380 bartenders are employed in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.