Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Medical equipment preparers
- Median annual wage: $37,480
- Median hourly wage: $18.02
- Total employment: 220 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Fargo
Uncertainty clouds the current job market. On one hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports unemployment rates at 4.2% as of May 2025—and that hasn't changed much in the past year, a typical indicator of a positive economy. At the same time, average weekly earnings have increased by 3.9% over the 12 months ending May 2025 to reach $1,243.03.
However, the American economy may soon shift. The Trump administration's federal budget cuts have eliminated tens of thousands of jobs, and constant changes in import tariffs leave companies unable to plan for their future employment needs.
With these factors in mind, minimum or low-wage jobs are increasingly unsustainable for most. In 2025, a full-time job at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour puts a worker under the poverty threshold, according to the Economic Policy Institute. While states can opt to have higher minimum wages, 20 states are at or below the federal minimum as of 2025.
Salaries can also vary by gender, race, and educational attainment. According to a March 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, women's earnings are about 85% of men's, and women also remain overrepresented in low-paying jobs. Meanwhile, April 2025 BLS data shows that Hispanic workers' median earnings lag behind those of other race and ethnicity groups, and full-time workers without a high school diploma earned the least compared to their more educated counterparts.
It's important to note, though, that low pay doesn't always equal low job satisfaction. Some people feel drawn to a particular field, seek a certain work environment, or aim for work-life balance. No matter the reason, Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 lowest-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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Kzenon // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $37,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.97
- Total employment: 230 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $37,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.94
- Total employment: 290 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Broadcast technicians
- Median annual wage: $37,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $37,240
- Median hourly wage: $17.91
- Total employment: 860 people (5.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $37,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,630 people (11.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $36,880
- Median hourly wage: $17.73
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $36,810
- Median hourly wage: $17.70
- Total employment: 460 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $36,680
- Median hourly wage: $17.63
- Total employment: 120 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.57
- Total employment: 1,570 people (10.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Standret // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.52
- Total employment: 550 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $36,370
- Median hourly wage: $17.49
- Total employment: 90 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $36,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 70 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $36,290
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $36,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 2,590 people (17.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,980
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: 280 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $35,940
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 580 people (3.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,500
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 530 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#30. Retail salespersons (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 3,980 people (26.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Cooks, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 470 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 480 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Photographers
- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $34,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,550
- Median hourly wage: $16.61
- Total employment: 890 people (6.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $33,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 210 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Bicycle repairers
- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $32,900
- Median hourly wage: $15.82
- Total employment: 380 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $32,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: Not available
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 280 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,980
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 610 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $30,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.77
- Total employment: 180 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 2,600 people (17.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $30,500
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 260 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 1,350 people (9.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 340 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $30,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 3,970 people (26.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrei Zveaghintev // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Gambling service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 350 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 2,030 people (13.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $28,180
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 360 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $27,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 80 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $27,180
- Median hourly wage: $13.07
- Total employment: 1,330 people (9.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Gambling dealers
- Median annual wage: $26,370
- Median hourly wage: $12.68
- Total employment: 170 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nick_Nick // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Gambling and sports book writers and runners
- Median annual wage: $25,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $21,300
- Median hourly wage: $10.24
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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