Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $97,490
- Median hourly wage: $46.87
- Total employment: 150 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Fargo
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Fargo. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $99,670
- Median hourly wage: $47.92
- Total employment: 420 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $102,160
- Median hourly wage: $49.12
- Total employment: 80 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $103,030
- Median hourly wage: $49.53
- Total employment: 900 people (6.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $103,320
- Median hourly wage: $49.67
- Total employment: 370 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Technical writers
- Median annual wage: $103,340
- Median hourly wage: $49.69
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,720
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $104,000
- Median hourly wage: $50.00
- Total employment: 330 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $104,480
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $105,340
- Median hourly wage: $50.65
- Total employment: 170 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $106,850
- Median hourly wage: $51.37
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $107,280
- Median hourly wage: $51.58
- Total employment: 210 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $107,480
- Median hourly wage: $51.67
- Total employment: 110 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $110,390
- Median hourly wage: $53.07
- Total employment: 180 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $110,760
- Median hourly wage: $53.25
- Total employment: 100 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $111,630
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $112,330
- Median hourly wage: $54.01
- Total employment: 220 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $113,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $115,780
- Median hourly wage: $55.66
- Total employment: 150 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $119,640
- Median hourly wage: $57.52
- Total employment: 620 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $123,460
- Median hourly wage: $59.36
- Total employment: 160 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $126,570
- Median hourly wage: $60.85
- Total employment: 240 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $128,430
- Median hourly wage: $61.75
- Total employment: 130 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $128,780
- Median hourly wage: $61.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $129,070
- Median hourly wage: $62.06
- Total employment: 230 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $129,130
- Median hourly wage: $62.08
- Total employment: 460 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,760
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VE.Studio // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $135,110
- Median hourly wage: $64.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $135,680
- Median hourly wage: $65.23
- Total employment: 710 people (4.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $136,270
- Median hourly wage: $65.52
- Total employment: 500 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $136,630
- Median hourly wage: $65.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $145,060
- Median hourly wage: $69.74
- Total employment: 300 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman023_photography // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $165,050
- Median hourly wage: $79.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $194,620
- Median hourly wage: $93.57
- Total employment: 90 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $207,830
- Median hourly wage: $99.92
- Total employment: 130 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $226,000
- Median hourly wage: $108.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $232,420
- Median hourly wage: $111.74
- Total employment: 140 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 260 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlurryMe // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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