Jobs, pay and daily life in Fargo, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Fargo is a city in North Dakota with 131,627 residents. The median household earns $66,998 a year and the median rent is $946 a month, which is 16.9% of the median household income. It is part of the Fargo, ND-MN metropolitan area, where BLS counts 148,660 jobs.
How Fargo compares. Among the 30 largest places in North Dakota, Fargo is #1 by population, #2 for college degrees (#1 = most), #4 for remote work (#1 = most), #25 for homeownership (#1 = highest). Its county, Cass County, is #10 of 53 counties for average pay ($66,805).
Fargo has 131,627 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 16.8% of the population of North Dakota. It covers 51 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,557 people per square mile. The median age is 31.8, 11% younger than the state median (31.8 against 35.9).
The median gross rent is $946 a month (rent plus utilities), about the same as the state median ($946 against $954). Over a year that is 16.9% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $281,900, which is 4.2 times the median household income ($66,998). 43.7% of households own their home, 30% below the state average (43.7% against 62.9%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The Fargo, ND-MN metropolitan area has 148,660 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $51,050 a year, about the same as the national median ($51,050 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (16,250 jobs, median $47,490); transportation and material moving (13,930 jobs, median $47,680); sales and related (13,140 jobs, median $38,240). The area is most specialised in construction and extraction (1.4 times) and healthcare practitioners and technical (1.4 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($104,330) and healthcare practitioners and technical ($81,330). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Cass County was 1.8%. 74.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Cass County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 76.7% drive alone, 0.6% use public transit, 3.7% walk, 9.8% work from home. 4.2% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 46% below the state average (4.2% against 7.8%).
43.0% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 31% above the state share (43.0% against 32.7%). 9.5% of residents were born outside the United States, 102% above the state share (9.5% against 4.7%). The poverty rate is 12.9%, 19% above the state rate (12.9% against 10.8%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 73°F (23.0°C), and the coolest is Jan at 10°F (-12.4°C). About 608 mm (24 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jun is the wettest month (104 mm) and Jan the driest (14 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: West Fargo (4 miles, rent 17% higher); Moorhead (4 miles, rent 9% higher); Horace (8 miles, rent 127% higher); Casselton (18 miles, rent 14% lower). Rent differences are against Fargo; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in North Dakota (255) →State guide: North DakotaCountry guideCass CountyNorth Dakota rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 255 federal postings open in North Dakota (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in North Dakota →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 4,790 | 1.48 | $82,120 | $69,620 | $103,480 | -16% |
| Retail Salespersons | 4,160 | 1.12 | $35,860 | $28,140 | $50,180 | +1% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 4,090 | 1.11 | $30,950 | $24,230 | $37,450 | -1% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 3,810 | 1.35 | $45,690 | $35,300 | $56,870 | +14% |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,590 | 1.07 | $96,410 | $49,710 | $185,280 | -9% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 3,570 | 1.81 | $58,900 | $40,870 | $78,350 | +0% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 3,130 | 0.76 | $37,910 | $35,110 | $49,190 | +6% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,790 | 1.12 | $40,900 | $30,440 | $61,530 | -9% |
| Cashiers | 2,770 | 0.94 | $33,420 | $27,920 | $37,630 | +2% |
| Office Clerks, General | 2,590 | 1.10 | $49,060 | $34,720 | $69,060 | +9% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 2,490 | 1.18 | $37,200 | $30,940 | $48,040 | +1% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 2,350 | 1.75 | $46,660 | $39,650 | $59,840 | +5% |
| Nursing Assistants | 2,240 | 1.62 | $39,940 | $33,050 | $50,800 | -5% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,020 | 0.93 | $30,330 | $18,470 | $59,910 | -14% |
| Construction Laborers | 1,760 | 1.68 | $49,340 | $44,020 | $77,350 | +5% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,740 | 0.64 | $36,880 | $31,480 | $50,560 | -1% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,740 | 1.47 | $70,070 | $44,810 | $131,220 | -3% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 1,730 | 1.06 | $47,060 | $35,610 | $60,270 | -1% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 1,650 | 1.21 | $39,270 | $28,090 | $45,750 | +7% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,580 | 1.14 | $76,420 | $49,590 | $126,000 | -9% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacists | 520 | 1.68 | $142,040 | $37,120 | $167,940 | +1% |
| Financial Managers | 810 | 1.01 | $136,970 | $92,870 | $236,930 | -18% |
| Managers, All Other | 590 | 0.99 | $124,390 | $79,940 | $203,730 | -12% |
| Software Developers | 860 | 0.53 | $105,980 | $60,300 | $160,480 | -22% |
| Construction Managers | 520 | 1.42 | $102,830 | $64,890 | $167,710 | -11% |
| Project Management Specialists | 870 | 0.85 | $97,430 | $60,750 | $138,530 | -5% |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,590 | 1.07 | $96,410 | $49,710 | $185,280 | -9% |
| Civil Engineers | 510 | 1.44 | $95,530 | $60,900 | $149,410 | -5% |
| Management Analysts | 620 | 0.72 | $90,220 | $53,390 | $125,270 | -11% |
| Registered Nurses | 4,790 | 1.48 | $82,120 | $69,620 | $103,480 | -16% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 1,000 | 1.29 | $78,080 | $58,730 | $121,740 | -2% |
| Electricians | 920 | 1.27 | $76,950 | $46,800 | $100,320 | +22% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 720 | 0.83 | $76,550 | $50,150 | $120,730 | +1% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,580 | 1.14 | $76,420 | $49,590 | $126,000 | -9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 580 | 0.90 | $76,410 | $53,040 | $95,580 | +3% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 750 | 0.72 | $73,920 | $48,480 | $126,730 | -11% |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 610 | 1.33 | $71,220 | $46,250 | $182,150 | +14% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,740 | 1.47 | $70,070 | $44,810 | $131,220 | -3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 860 | 0.63 | $67,750 | $46,730 | $99,360 | -3% |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | 500 | 1.82 | $64,370 | $48,620 | $89,700 | +4% |
These figures are for the whole Fargo, ND-MN metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $51,050 (US $50,980); unemployment 2.3% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.8% |
| Retail trade | 11.7% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 11.0% |
| Manufacturing | 9.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.1% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 7.4% |
| Construction | 5.6% |
| Other services | 4.5% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 4.0% |
| Public administration | 3.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 3.0% |
| Information | 1.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.2% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Fargo lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | 193,400 | $19,105 million | $98,784 | 128,033 | 9,494 | $66,805 | +1.5% | 1.8% | 120,301 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 22,662 | 19.9% | $71,551 | 1.23 |
| Retail trade | 12,676 | 11.1% | $40,332 | 0.99 |
| Manufacturing | 10,956 | 9.6% | $72,039 | 1.04 |
| Accommodation and food services | 10,521 | 9.3% | $25,918 | 0.90 |
| Construction | 9,394 | 8.3% | $78,159 | 1.40 |
| Wholesale trade | 7,956 | 7.0% | $94,389 | 1.58 |
| Finance and insurance | 7,281 | 6.4% | $95,173 | 1.40 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6,754 | 5.9% | $55,530 | 1.25 |
| Professional and technical services | 6,659 | 5.9% | $94,435 | 0.75 |
| Administrative and waste services | 4,752 | 4.2% | $47,789 | 0.63 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3,397 | 3.0% | $50,395 | 0.88 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 2,711 | 2.4% | $27,390 | 1.26 |
| Management of companies | 2,329 | 2.0% | $117,267 | 1.08 |
| Information | 2,166 | 1.9% | $126,322 | 0.90 |
| Real estate and rental | 1,935 | 1.7% | $62,714 | 0.97 |
| Educational services | 843 | 0.7% | $31,942 | 0.32 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 485 | 0.4% | $68,619 | 0.47 |
| Utilities | 172 | 0.2% | $115,773 | 0.35 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 39 | 0.0% | $73,327 | 0.08 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 76.7% |
| Public transit | 0.6% |
| Walk | 3.7% |
| Work from home | 9.8% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 4.2% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,998 |
| Income per person | $42,734 |
| Median gross rent per month | $946 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 16.9% |
| Median home value | $281,900 |
| Homeowners | 43.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 90.9 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $51,050 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 2.50%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 95.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 43.0% |
| Born abroad | 9.5% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 74.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -12.4 | 10 | 14 |
| Feb | -10.4 | 13 | 16 |
| Mar | -1.4 | 29 | 29 |
| Apr | 6.5 | 44 | 45 |
| May | 13.6 | 56 | 84 |
| Jun | 19.6 | 67 | 104 |
| Jul | 23.0 | 73 | 80 |
| Aug | 21.3 | 70 | 69 |
| Sep | 16.0 | 61 | 69 |
| Oct | 7.0 | 45 | 57 |
| Nov | -0.8 | 31 | 17 |
| Dec | -8.7 | 16 | 24 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Fargo | ND | 4 mi | 40,094 | $90,665 | $1,111 |
| Moorhead | MN | 4 mi | 45,036 | $72,761 | $1,033 |
| Horace | ND | 8 mi | 4,588 | $138,578 | $2,146 |
| Casselton | ND | 18 mi | 2,953 | $73,259 | $814 |
| Wahpeton | ND | 42 mi | 8,010 | $62,750 | $751 |
| Mayville | ND | 50 mi | 1,976 | $55,735 | $854 |
| Lisbon | ND | 50 mi | 2,259 | $64,327 | $649 |
| Fergus Falls | MN | 54 mi | 14,181 | $56,162 | $911 |
| Valley City | ND | 56 mi | 6,541 | $60,339 | $780 |
| Grand Forks | ND | 74 mi | 59,042 | $63,627 | $980 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
131,627 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$946 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 16.9% of the median household income.
$66,998 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
1.8% (BLS county, Cass County (latest month 2026M09)).
North Dakota. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.