Cooks, Fast Food salary in Fargo, ND-MN
Cooks, Fast Food in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area earn a median of $29,710 a year ($14.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,400 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 2% lower than the North Dakota statewide median of $30,220. There are 1.2 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.29). The average (mean) salary is $31,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Fargo, ND-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,840 | $11.46 |
| 25th percentile | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Median | $29,710 | $14.29 |
| 75th percentile | $35,030 | $16.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| Average (mean) | $31,550 | $15.17 |
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 | $2,475.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,237.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,142.69 |
| Weekly | $571.35 |
| Hourly | $14.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,710 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.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,380 | 3,550 |
| Rochester, MN | $33,090 | 170 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $32,970 | 740 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $31,010 | 180 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $30,790 | 240 |
| Minot, ND | $30,030 | 80 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $29,550 | 100 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $28,590 | 180 |
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 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the North Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fargo, ND-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,120 | $19.77 |
| 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 35-2011. 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 Fargo, ND-MN?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area is $29,710 a year, or $14.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Fargo, ND-MN?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area earn at least $38,400 a year. The top 25% earn $35,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Fargo, ND-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,840 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,640 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Fargo, ND-MN?
About 180 cooks, fast food are employed in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.