Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in North Dakota make a median of $74,740 a year, or about $35.93 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $84,081 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 20.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in North Dakota?
About chefs and head cooks
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What this looks like in North Dakota
North Dakota sits well above the national pay line for chefs and head cooks, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 20.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, North Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for chefs and head cookss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in North Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $54K | -27% | 40 |
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Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 20.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,894/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $75K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
North Dakota pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in North Dakota?
The median is $74,740 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,240, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $85,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,959/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 20.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $84,081 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.