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Fargo, ND-MN metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Fargo, ND?

In the Fargo, ND-MN metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $36,590 a year ($17.59 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 550 of these jobs there. That is 28% below the $51,050 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $27,950 and $44,790; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Minnesota tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $30,441 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Fargo, ND at a glance

Median salary

$36,590$17.59 per hour · $3,049 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$27,950$13.44/hr
25th percentile$30,930$14.87/hr
75th percentile$38,750$18.63/hr
90th percentile$44,790$21.54/hr
Jobs in this metro550Location quotient 0.64 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here28% belowAll-jobs median $51,050
Against Minnesota5% aboveStatewide median $34,850
Against the U.S.4% aboveNational median $35,320

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Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $37,000 a year leaves after tax in MinnesotaFederal tax, FICA and Minnesota withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$18 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $37,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $37,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Minnesota publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Minnesota.

Food preparation worker salary in Fargo, ND after taxes

$36,590
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,590
Net 83%
Fed 6%
MN 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,441After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,537Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,171Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,211 / yr
Minnesota state income tax$1,139 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,799 / yr
Customize deductions in full Minnesota calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Fargo, ND, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Fargo, ND-MN metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (MN)
10th percentile$13.44/hr$2,329$27,950$23,950
25th percentile$14.87/hr$2,578$30,930$26,196
MedianMedian$17.59/hr$3,049$36,590$30,441
75th percentile$18.63/hr$3,229$38,750$32,061
90th percentile$21.54/hr$3,733$44,790$36,591

Is $36,590 a good salary in Fargo, ND?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$76,756Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)90.99.1% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household47.7%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other Minnesota metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Fargo, ND. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Fargo, ND: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Fargo, ND-MN?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area was $36,590 in May 2025, about $3,049 a month or $17.59 an hour. Statewide, the Minnesota median for this job is $34,850, so the metro pays 5% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Fargo, ND-MN?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Fargo, ND-MN was $17.59 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.44 an hour and one in ten earned more than $21.54.

How many food preparation workers work in Fargo, ND-MN?

BLS estimated 550 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 3.7 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.64 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Fargo, ND-MN?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Fargo, ND-MN run from $27,950 at the 10th percentile to $30,930 at the 25th, $38,750 at the 75th, and $44,790 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Fargo, ND-MN?

On a median gross salary of $36,590, an estimated $30,441 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,171 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Minnesota in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,149 (an effective rate of 16.8%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Fargo, ND-MN?

On the median annual salary of $36,590, gross monthly income is $3,049. After federal, FICA, and Minnesota state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,537 per month (or $1,171 every two weeks).

Is $36,590 a good salary in Fargo, ND-MN?

At $36,590, the median salary for food preparation workers is 47.7% of the Fargo, ND-MN median household income ($76,756). It is 28% below the $51,050 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 90.9, so prices here run 9.1% below the U.S. average.