Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Fargo, ND-MN

Each occupation's median wage in Fargo, ND-MN compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Fargo, ND-MN pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Fargo, ND-MN run 9.1% below the national average (2024), so a Fargo, ND-MN salary is worth about 1.10× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Fargo, ND-MN

OccupationMedian, Fargo, ND-MN · vs. national

1Riggers$169,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,680 – $169,480+170.6%
2Physicians, All Other$418,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$135,270 – $564,000+57.6%
3Surgeons, All Other$604,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$231,290 – $673,520+46.1%
4Business Teachers, Postsecondary$138,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,020 – $220,880+40.2%
5Education Teachers, Postsecondary$103,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,030 – $104,200+37.8%
6Surveyors$102,270
Bachelor's degree
$67,980 – $141,080+35.6%
7Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$66,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $93,120+33.0%
8Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$106,380
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,570 – $136,420+32.6%
9Structural Iron and Steel Workers$83,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,410 – $90,980+32.5%
10General Internal Medicine Physicians$338,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$188,220 – $347,440+31.9%
11Rehabilitation Counselors$61,420
Master's degree
$41,550 – $88,000+31.1%
12Sheet Metal Workers$80,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,690 – $81,750+29.9%
13Helpers--Production Workers$50,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,930 – $58,770+28.5%
14Barbers$48,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,760 – $59,070+27.7%
15Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$108,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,320 – $135,380+27.7%
16Massage Therapists$74,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,910 – $92,250+26.8%
17Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $63,610+25.5%
18Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$75,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,450 – $95,950+24.4%
19Parts Salespersons$47,520
No formal educational credential
$30,450 – $70,190+23.0%
20Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$58,720
Some college, no degree
$36,780 – $71,760+22.8%
21Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$60,840
No formal educational credential
$35,320 – $63,330+22.4%
22Loan Officers$93,640
Bachelor's degree
$57,980 – $146,640+22.1%
23Electricians$76,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,800 – $100,320+21.8%
24Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$61,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,370 – $85,840+21.7%
25Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$57,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,140 – $69,990+20.8%
26Highway Maintenance Workers$60,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,110 – $72,120+20.6%
27Residential Advisors$50,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,180 – $59,710+20.3%
28Medical Equipment Repairers$73,610
Associate's degree
$49,460 – $98,370+19.4%
29Property Appraisers and Assessors$80,980
Bachelor's degree
$44,940 – $140,960+19.2%
30Tax Preparers$65,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,540 – $101,960+18.9%
31Dental Assistants$56,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,300 – $70,450+18.5%
32First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$57,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $74,700+18.1%
33Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$59,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,570 – $81,170+17.6%
34Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$53,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $81,370+17.1%
35Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $77,020+16.9%
36Food Batchmakers$49,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,590 – $58,900+16.8%
37Skincare Specialists$52,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,630 – $88,490+16.8%
38Agricultural Equipment Operators$48,710
No formal educational credential
$39,610 – $58,720+16.7%
39Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$74,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,800 – $98,910+16.5%
40Dentists, General$198,570
Doctoral or professional degree
$140,160 – $278,460+16.2%
41Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,270 – $73,930+15.5%
42Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$45,040
No formal educational credential
$34,670 – $58,890+15.0%
43Insurance Sales Agents$71,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,250 – $182,150+14.4%
44Cargo and Freight Agents$59,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,760 – $98,960+14.0%
45Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$61,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $74,230+13.7%
46Butchers and Meat Cutters$45,640
No formal educational credential
$34,580 – $61,330+13.7%
47Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$45,690
No formal educational credential
$35,300 – $56,870+13.5%
48New Accounts Clerks$53,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,410 – $66,000+13.2%
49Family Medicine Physicians$276,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$175,280 – $323,640+13.2%
50Crossing Guards and Flaggers$42,660
No formal educational credential
$37,470 – $60,230+12.0%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianFargo, ND-MN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$169,480	$78,680 – $169,480	+170.6%
2	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$418,980	$135,270 – $564,000	+57.6%
3	Surgeons, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$604,890	$231,290 – $673,520	+46.1%
4	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$138,950	$76,020 – $220,880	+40.2%
5	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,850	$67,030 – $104,200	+37.8%
6	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$102,270	$67,980 – $141,080	+35.6%
7	Miscellaneous Construction and Related WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,400	$46,760 – $93,120	+33.0%
8	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$106,380	$67,570 – $136,420	+32.6%
9	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,200	$57,410 – $90,980	+32.5%
10	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$338,400	$188,220 – $347,440	+31.9%
11	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$61,420	$41,550 – $88,000	+31.1%
12	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,290	$50,690 – $81,750	+29.9%
13	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,190	$30,930 – $58,770	+28.5%
14	BarbersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,810	$28,760 – $59,070	+27.7%
15	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$108,090	$64,320 – $135,380	+27.7%
16	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,140	$44,910 – $92,250	+26.8%
17	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$42,160 – $63,610	+25.5%
18	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,920	$46,450 – $95,950	+24.4%
19	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$47,520	$30,450 – $70,190	+23.0%
20	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$58,720	$36,780 – $71,760	+22.8%
21	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$60,840	$35,320 – $63,330	+22.4%
22	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$93,640	$57,980 – $146,640	+22.1%
23	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,950	$46,800 – $100,320	+21.8%
24	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,260	$39,370 – $85,840	+21.7%
25	Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,300	$46,140 – $69,990	+20.8%
26	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,630	$46,110 – $72,120	+20.6%
27	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,820	$36,180 – $59,710	+20.3%
28	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$73,610	$49,460 – $98,370	+19.4%
29	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$80,980	$44,940 – $140,960	+19.2%
30	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,320	$39,540 – $101,960	+18.9%
31	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,940	$45,300 – $70,450	+18.5%
32	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,980	$38,470 – $74,700	+18.1%
33	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,510	$37,570 – $81,170	+17.6%
34	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,490	$35,360 – $81,370	+17.1%
35	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$41,600 – $77,020	+16.9%
36	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,390	$37,590 – $58,900	+16.8%
37	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,950	$35,630 – $88,490	+16.8%
38	Agricultural Equipment OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$48,710	$39,610 – $58,720	+16.7%
39	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,460	$50,800 – $98,910	+16.5%
40	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$198,570	$140,160 – $278,460	+16.2%
41	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,080	$41,270 – $73,930	+15.5%
42	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$45,040	$34,670 – $58,890	+15.0%
43	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,220	$46,250 – $182,150	+14.4%
44	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,580	$43,760 – $98,960	+14.0%
45	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,140	$46,660 – $74,230	+13.7%
46	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$45,640	$34,580 – $61,330	+13.7%
47	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$45,690	$35,300 – $56,870	+13.5%
48	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,950	$41,410 – $66,000	+13.2%
49	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$276,530	$175,280 – $323,640	+13.2%
50	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$42,660	$37,470 – $60,230	+12.0%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Fargo, ND-MN to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Fargo, ND-MN

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