Machinists pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,270 or more. The middle half of machinists in Fargo earn between $49,650 and $73,590.
- $48K10th
- $50K25th
- $62KMedian
- $74K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,100 | $5,092 | $29.38 |
| Median | $61,820 | $5,152 | $29.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,650 | $4,138 | $23.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,590 | $6,132 | $35.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Machinists in Fargo earn 4% less than the North Dakota average ($63,830) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $61,100 | $61,820 | $47,810 | $77,270 | 130 |
| North Dakota | $63,830 | $61,820 | $47,810 | $80,030 | 560 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in Fargo
On the average salary of $61,100, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $51,274 a year, or $4,273 a month and $1,972 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 | $51,274 | $4,273 |
| Working in MN | $48,642 | $4,054 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for machinists? 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 $61,100 buys what about $67,238 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 2nd of 3 North Dakota metro areas for this job; Bismarck pays the most ($73,150).
- Bismarck$73,150
- Fargo$61,100
- Grand Forks$58,670
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in Fargo: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Fargo?
$29.38 an hour on average, and $29.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Fargo?
About $51,274 a year ($4,273 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,100.
Do machinists earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
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 51-4041; area Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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