Accountant salary in Fargo, ND-MN
Fargo pays accountants close to the North Dakota norm. The median is $76,420 a year1, about level with the North Dakota statewide median of $75,730 and 8.7% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #268 of 521 areas. It is the largest market for the job in North Dakota: about 1,580 people.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Fargo, ND-MN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Fargo against North Dakota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $49,590 | $76,420 | $126,000 | |
| North Dakota | $49,330 | $75,730 | $124,960 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Fargo earns $61,690–$98,390. The top tenth earns $126,000 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $36,700 wide, between the figure for North Dakota ($34,820) and the US figure ($42,790).
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,590 | $4,132 | $23.84 | $63,987 |
| 25th percentile | $61,690 | $5,141 | $29.66 | $79,600 |
| Median | $76,420 | $6,368 | $36.74 | $98,606 |
| 75th percentile | $98,390 | $8,199 | $47.30 | $126,955 |
| 90th percentile | $126,000 | $10,500 | $60.58 | $162,581 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $21,970 a year in pay and about $28,348 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $14,730 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Fargo, and the North Dakota statewide median of $75,730 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Fargo
At the $76,420 median, a local hire costs about $98,606 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,186 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Fargo
Of the 15 roles we track in Fargo, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between recruiters ($76,550) and office managers ($67,750). Project Coordinator is the highest at $97,430.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +27.5% | 870 | |
| Recruiter | +0.2% | 720 | |
| Accountant | this role | 1,580 | |
| Office Manager | -11.3% | 860 | |
| Executive Assistant | -14.8% | 250 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #12 of the 15 roles we track in Fargo (-8.7%), between customer support specialists (-8.6%) and sales development representatives (-8.8%). The typical role here is at -2.5%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in Fargo than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 11.7% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Fargo, 13.1% across North Dakota and 9.3% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in North Dakota
Across the 6 areas of North Dakota with data for this job, the median runs from $66,240 in the East North Dakota nonmetro area to $77,640 in the West North Dakota nonmetro area, a gap of $11,400 a year. No other area in North Dakota has as many accountants, and 3 of the other 5 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Fargo | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| West North Dakota (Nonmetro) | +1.6% | 780 | |
| Bismarck, ND | +0.6% | 780 | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | this area | 1,580 | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | -2.2% | 440 | |
| Minot, ND | -3.8% | 310 | |
| East North Dakota (Nonmetro) | -13.3% | 670 |
Fargo against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Fargo is #124 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside North Dakota, Harrisburg-Carlisle and Bloomington pay just above Fargo and Pensacola-Ferry Pass and Eau Claire just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in Fargo. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Fargo | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | +13.1% | 1,600 | jobs | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | +4.7% | 1,580 | jobs | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | +1.5% | 1,560 | jobs | |
| Bloomington, IL | +0.1% | 750 | pay | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +0.1% | 3,210 | pay | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | this area | 1,580 | ||
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL | -0.0% | 1,170 | pay | |
| Eau Claire, WI | -0.1% | 670 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Fargo, ND-MN?
About $98,606 a year at the median, or $8,217 a month: $76,420 in pay plus about $22,186 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Fargo?
The median was $76,420 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,590, the 90th $126,000, and the middle half earned $61,690 to $98,390.
Is Fargo cheaper than the rest of North Dakota for accountants?
About the same: a median of $76,420 against $75,730 statewide. The next area up in North Dakota is Bismarck at $76,910, the next down Grand Forks at $74,740.
How many accountants work in Fargo?
BLS counts about 1,580 in the May 2025 survey. No other area in North Dakota has as many.
Does an accountant cost more than an office manager in Fargo?
Yes: $8,670 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,420 and $67,750.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.