Cost of hiring in Fargo, ND-MN
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 15 jobs in Fargo, with about 2,790 people1. Medians run from $38,500 a year for virtual receptionists to $97,430 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Fargo
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +2.6% | 130 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | +1.3% | 700 | |
| Recruiter | +0.8% | 720 | |
| Bookkeeper | -0.2% | 1,520 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -0.8% | 490 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -1.0% | 1,730 | |
| HR Assistant | -1.8% | 60 | |
| Office Manager | -2.5% | 860 | |
| Project Coordinator | -4.8% | 870 | |
| Paralegal | -8.5% | 310 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.6% | 2,790 | |
| Accountant | -8.7% | 1,580 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -8.8% | 670 | |
| Executive Assistant | -15.0% | 250 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.7% | 790 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $40,900 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $52,774 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Fargo against the US
Fargo pays above the US median for 2 of the 15 roles, most of all for payroll specialists (+2.6%) and virtual receptionists (+1.3%), and below it for 10, furthest for marketing specialists (-21.7%). For recruiters, bookkeepers and medical administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 15 is -2.5%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for recruiters, #86 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for marketing specialists, #299 of 516.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Fargo has more bookkeepers (11.3% of these jobs here, against 8.8% nationally) and accountants (11.7% against 9.3%), and fewer medical administrative assistants (3.6% against 6.1%) and sales development representatives (5.0% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Albany, OR is nearest, at -2.6%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -2.3% | 17 | 21,260 |
| Kingston, NY | -2.4% | 16 | 5,570 |
| Helena, MT | -2.4% | 14 | 4,070 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | -2.5% (this area) | 15 | 13,470 |
| Albany, OR | -2.6% | 15 | 3,490 |
| Binghamton, NY | -2.6% | 17 | 9,350 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Fargo span $35,630–$140,140, the widest band (3.9×); HR assistants the narrowest, $41,190–$62,080. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 15 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, customer support specialists and marketing specialists: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($79,840 against a $63,800 median for sales development representatives).
Fargo against North Dakota
Against North Dakota as a whole, Fargo pays more for 4 of 15 roles, led by executive assistants (+6.2%) and bookkeepers (+1.7%), and less for 7, most of all customer support specialists (-8.4%). It has the highest median in North Dakota for project coordinators, executive assistants and bookkeepers, and the lowest for customer support specialists and virtual receptionists.
Other areas in North Dakota
By jobs in these roles, Fargo is #1 of 6 areas in North Dakota. The table shows the other 5.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | 6,080 | 15 |
| West North Dakota (Nonmetro) | 5,310 | 14 |
| East North Dakota (Nonmetro) | 4,140 | 14 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 3,850 | 14 |
| Minot, ND | 2,360 | 12 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Fargo?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $97,430 a year, about $125,716 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $38,500.
Is hiring in Fargo cheaper than the US median?
For 10 of the 15 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-21.7%). 2 pay more than the US median, led by payroll specialists (+2.6%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.