Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Fargo, ND-MN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fargo, ND-MN

Median annual salary $59,430 -2.6% vs national
Median hourly $28.57
10th percentile $40,680
90th percentile $86,030
Employed locally 40
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,680
    25th
    $52,670
    50th (median)
    $59,430
    75th
    $76,630
    90th
    $86,030

    Fargo economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $75,523 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 79% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 21% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Alexandria, LA $80,290
    Rhode Island $79,160
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $74,990
    Vineland, NJ $72,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $68,260

    Related occupations in Fargo, ND-MN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$30,010
    Waiters and Waitresses$29,210
    Cooks, Restaurant$36,540
    Bartenders$27,180
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$43,570
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$39,810

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Fargo?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Fargo, ND-MN is $28.57, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.96 or more per hour.

    Is Fargo above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Fargo, ND-MN is 2.6% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Fargo?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $40,680 per year in Fargo, ND-MN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $52,670.