SOC 51-9124 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Fargo
Fargo, ND-MN · 2 metro areas compared
At $47,610, median pay for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fargo, ND tracks the national median of $48,250 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $47,610, median pay for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fargo, ND tracks the national median of $48,250 closely. Pay ranges from under $43,630 at the tenth percentile to more than $69,700 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,530 to $61,620.
Employment stands at 230, or 1.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Grand Forks records the highest median at $61,220. Of the 408 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 292nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,630 | −9.6% |
| 25th | $44,530 | −7.7% |
| Median (50th) | $47,610 | −1.3% |
| 75th | $61,620 | +27.7% |
| 90th | $69,700 | +44.5% |
| Mean | $52,670 | +9.2% |
Other metro areas in North Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks | $61,220 | 60 | |
| 2 | Bismarck | $59,250 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fargo run 11.0% below the national average, so the median of $47,610 goes as far as $53,494 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,610as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,494US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,610 a year, 1.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,630 to $69,700 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Grand Forks, at $61,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fargo, ND?
The median annual wage is $47,610, or $22.89 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $48,250, so pay in Fargo, ND is 1.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Fargo, ND earns more than $69,700 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,630 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Grand Forks, at $61,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Fargo, ND. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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