Firefighters pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,860 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Fargo earn between $46,140 and $61,080.
- $33K10th
- $46K25th
- $53KMedian
- $61K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,180 | $4,432 | $25.57 |
| Median | $53,130 | $4,428 | $25.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,140 | $3,845 | $22.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,080 | $5,090 | $29.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Firefighters in Fargo earn 8% less than the North Dakota average ($57,980) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $53,180 | $53,130 | $33,460 | $73,860 | 270 |
| North Dakota | $57,980 | $55,080 | $39,700 | $77,530 | 820 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Fargo
On the average salary of $53,180, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $44,910 a year, or $3,743 a month and $1,727 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Fargo, ND-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in ND | $44,910 | $3,743 |
| Working in MN | $42,817 | $3,568 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fargo area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.9), so the average $53,180 buys what about $58,523 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 3rd of 4 North Dakota metro areas for this job; Grand Forks pays the most ($61,460).
- Grand Forks$61,460
- Minot$55,240
- Fargo$53,180
- Bismarck$50,390
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in Fargo: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Fargo?
$25.57 an hour on average, and $25.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Fargo?
About $44,910 a year ($3,743 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,180.
Do firefighters earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2011; area Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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