Cooks, Fast Food salary in North Dakota
Cooks, Fast Food in North Dakota earn a median of $30,220 a year ($14.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,480 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $30,890. North Dakota ranks 26th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 1.3 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.32). The average (mean) salary is $31,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in North Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,060 | $11.09 |
| 25th percentile | $29,320 | $14.10 |
| Median | $30,220 | $14.53 |
| 75th percentile | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Average (mean) | $31,850 | $15.31 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,518.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,259.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,162.31 |
| Weekly | $581.15 |
| Hourly | $14.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in North Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minot, ND | $30,030 | 80 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $29,710 | 180 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $29,550 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in North Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,490 | $18.99 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Cooks, All Other | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,080 | $14.46 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,890 | $14.85 |
| Bartender | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,910 | $17.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,010 | $14.91 |
| Dishwasher | $29,980 | $14.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,660 | $13.78 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,740 | $35.93 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $23,410 | $11.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in North Dakota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in North Dakota?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in North Dakota is $30,220 a year, or $14.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in North Dakota?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in North Dakota earn at least $38,480 a year. The top 25% earn $35,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in North Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,060 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $29,320 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in North Dakota?
About 580 cooks, fast food are employed in North Dakota, not counting the self-employed.