Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Fargo, ND-MN
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area earn a median of $54,390 a year ($26.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,190 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 27% lower than the North Dakota statewide median of $74,740. There are 0.26 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.20). The average (mean) salary is $62,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Fargo, ND-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,010 | $20.20 |
| 25th percentile | $48,240 | $23.19 |
| Median | $54,390 | $26.15 |
| 75th percentile | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,190 | $40.96 |
| Average (mean) | $62,400 | $30.00 |
Half of chefs and head cooks 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 | $4,532.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,266.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,091.92 |
| Weekly | $1,045.96 |
| Hourly | $26.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,240 | 1,280 |
| Rochester, MN | $62,520 | 90 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $60,500 | 40 |
| Mankato, MN | $60,050 | 30 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $58,300 | 60 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $56,790 | 100 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,150 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the North Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fargo, ND-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,330 | $14.58 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Bartender | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| 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 |
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 35-1011. 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 chefs and head cooks make in Fargo, ND-MN?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area is $54,390 a year, or $26.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Fargo, ND-MN?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area earn at least $85,190 a year. The top 25% earn $77,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Fargo, ND-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,010 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $48,240 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Fargo, ND-MN?
About 40 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.