Cooks, Restaurant salary in North Dakota
Cooks, Restaurant in North Dakota earn a median of $36,470 a year ($17.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,650 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. North Dakota ranks 32nd of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 10 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in North Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,850 | $13.87 |
| 25th percentile | $30,410 | $14.62 |
| Median | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| 75th percentile | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| Average (mean) | $36,690 | $17.64 |
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 | $3,039.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,519.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,402.69 |
| Weekly | $701.35 |
| Hourly | $17.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in North Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $37,020 | 1,560 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $36,800 | 560 |
| Bismarck, ND | $36,610 | 770 |
| Minot, ND | $36,390 | 380 |
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 |
Related jobs in North Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,490 | $18.99 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,220 | $14.53 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 North Dakota?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in North Dakota is $36,470 a year, or $17.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in North Dakota?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in North Dakota earn at least $45,650 a year. The top 25% earn $38,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in North Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,850 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,410 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in North Dakota?
About 4,490 cooks, restaurant are employed in North Dakota, not counting the self-employed.