Cooks, Restaurant salary in Fargo, ND-MN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area earn a median of $37,020 a year ($17.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,620 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 2% higher than the North Dakota statewide median of $36,470. There are 10 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Fargo, ND-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,900 | $13.90 |
| 25th percentile | $33,970 | $16.33 |
| Median | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| 75th percentile | $38,680 | $18.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,620 | $21.94 |
| Average (mean) | $37,490 | $18.03 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,085 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,542.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,423.85 |
| Weekly | $711.92 |
| Hourly | $17.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $39,640 | 17,760 |
| Rochester, MN | $38,150 | 1,060 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,310 | 690 |
| Mankato, MN | $37,190 | 510 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $36,800 | 560 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $36,680 | 1,460 |
| Bismarck, ND | $36,610 | 770 |
| Minot, ND | $36,390 | 380 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $36,270 | 780 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,260 | 860 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the North Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fargo, ND-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,120 | $19.77 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,710 | $14.29 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,330 | $14.58 |
| Bartender | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| 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 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Fargo, ND-MN?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area is $37,020 a year, or $17.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Fargo, ND-MN?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area earn at least $45,620 a year. The top 25% earn $38,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Fargo, ND-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,900 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $33,970 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Fargo, ND-MN?
About 1,560 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.