Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in North Dakota
$41,140avg. a year
$19.78 an hour · 1,820 employed
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in North Dakota earn an average of $41,140 a year. That is $2,330 (6%) more than the U.S. average of $38,810. The best-paying metro area is Fargo, ND-MN at $42,420.
$39,490Median pay
$19.78Average hourly
+25%Avg. pay since 2020
#21Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying North Dakota metro areas
Average pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria by metro area. Swipe to see all 4.
1450 jobs
Fargo, ND-MN
$42,420
$20.40 an hour
2170 jobs
Minot, ND
$41,260
$19.84 an hour
3200 jobs
Grand Forks, ND-MN
$40,630
$19.54 an hour
4310 jobs
Bismarck, ND
$40,230
$19.34 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in North Dakota, charted
Pay over time
North Dakota, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where North Dakota cooks, institution and cafeteria work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · North Dakota highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $35k$35k–$39k$39k–$44k$44k+North Dakota
North Dakota vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| North Dakota | $41,140 | $19.78 |
| Minnesota | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Montana | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| South Dakota | $37,630 | $18.09 |
Related jobs in North Dakota
- Cooks, Restaurant$36,690
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,260
- Waiters and Waitresses$36,250
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,290
- Bartenders$33,390
- Food Preparation Workers$36,210
Average pay, North Dakota, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in North Dakota?
The average is $41,140 a year, and the median is $39,490. That is $2,330 (6%) more than the U.S. average of $38,810.
What is the hourly wage in North Dakota?
$19.78 an hour on average; the median is $18.99.
Where in North Dakota do they earn the most?
Fargo, ND-MN ($42,420), followed by Minot, ND ($41,260). The lowest average among 4 metro areas with data is Bismarck, ND ($40,230).
How does North Dakota rank?
North Dakota ranks #21 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-2012. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national cooks, institution and cafeteria page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.