Food Preparation Worker Salary in Fargo, ND
Food Preparation Workers in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area earn a median $36,590 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,580 take-home, or $2,632 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Fargo, ND. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,211
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,269
- Medicare (1.45%)$531
- North Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,580
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Fargo, ND-MN metro spans North Dakota, Minnesota. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Fargo, ND
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,950 | $13.44 | $24,627 | $2,052 |
| 25th percentile | $30,930 | $14.87 | $27,032 | $2,253 |
| Median (50th) | $36,590 | $17.59 | $31,580 | $2,632 |
| 75th percentile | $38,750 | $18.63 | $33,316 | $2,776 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,790 | $21.53 | $38,169 | $3,181 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,590 buys in Fargo, ND
Prices in Fargo, ND are 9.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $31,580 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,753 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Fargo, ND than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Fargo, ND ranks #3 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Fargo, ND?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area is $36,590 a year, or about $17.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,930 and $38,750.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Fargo, ND?
On the median $36,590 salary, a single filer living in North Dakota takes home about $31,580 a year ($2,632 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Fargo, ND a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 9.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,753 would in a typical U.S. city. Fargo, ND ranks #3 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Fargo, ND?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fargo, ND is $917 a month ($1,112 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fargo, ND
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,480
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $41,120
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,020
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $30,950
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,330
- Bartender — $28,390