Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Bismarck, ND
Cooks, Restaurant in the Bismarck, ND metro area earn a median $36,610 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,596 take-home, or $2,633 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Bismarck, ND. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,213
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,270
- Medicare (1.45%)$531
- North Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,596
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Bismarck, ND
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,130 | $14.00 | $25,586 | $2,132 |
| 25th percentile | $31,090 | $14.95 | $27,161 | $2,263 |
| Median (50th) | $36,610 | $17.60 | $31,596 | $2,633 |
| 75th percentile | $38,380 | $18.45 | $33,018 | $2,752 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,650 | $21.95 | $38,860 | $3,238 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,610 buys in Bismarck, ND
Prices in Bismarck, ND are 9.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 16% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,596 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,712 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Bismarck, ND as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Bismarck, ND ranks #27 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 27 | Bismarck, ND | $36,610 | $31,596 | $34,712 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in North Dakota
- Grand Forks, ND — $36,800
- Fargo, ND — $37,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Bismarck, ND?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Bismarck, ND metro area is $36,610 a year, or about $17.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,090 and $38,380.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Bismarck, ND?
On the median $36,610 salary, a single filer living in North Dakota takes home about $31,596 a year ($2,633 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Bismarck, ND a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 9.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,712 would in a typical U.S. city. Bismarck, ND ranks #27 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Bismarck, ND?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bismarck, ND is $1,030 a month ($1,175 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bismarck, ND
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,190
- Waiter and Waitress — $32,310
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,940
- Bartender — $29,350