Chefs and Head Cooks salary in North Dakota
Chefs and Head Cooks in North Dakota earn a median of $74,740 a year ($35.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,190 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $62,470. North Dakota ranks 5th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.24 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.19). The average (mean) salary is $68,520, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in North Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,240 | $23.19 |
| 25th percentile | $48,940 | $23.53 |
| Median | $74,740 | $35.93 |
| 75th percentile | $78,700 | $37.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,190 | $40.96 |
| Average (mean) | $68,520 | $32.94 |
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 | $6,228.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,114.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,874.62 |
| Weekly | $1,437.31 |
| Hourly | $35.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $74,740 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Dakota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in North Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $54,390 | 40 |
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 |
Related jobs in North Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,080 | $14.46 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,890 | $14.85 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Bartender | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,490 | $18.99 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,910 | $17.75 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| 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 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,220 | $14.53 |
| Cooks, All Other | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| 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 35-1011. 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 North Dakota?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in North Dakota is $74,740 a year, or $35.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in North Dakota?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in North Dakota earn at least $85,190 a year. The top 25% earn $78,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in North Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,240 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $48,940 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in North Dakota?
About 100 chefs and head cooks are employed in North Dakota, not counting the self-employed.