CTO.
Fargo.
$258,000
median salary, 14% below the national average
$201,000 to $335,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates CTO pay in Fargo at $258,000, within a range of $201,000 to $335,000. That is 14% below the national average. Fargo has a surprisingly strong technology sector, home to companies like Microsoft's campus and a growing startup ecosystem tied to North Dakota State University. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for CTO in Fargo, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $188,510 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) in the Fargo, ND-MN metropolitan area, based on 120 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$105,420
25th percentile
$138,810
Median
$188,510
75th percentile
$344,820
90th percentile
$505,020
Workers surveyed
120
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $258,000 is 37% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Chief Executives covers a different population than the CTO title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) rather than CTO specifically. The Fargo range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 11-1011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $232,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$168,000
to $206,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$219,000
to $271,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$284,000
to $335,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$323,000
to $400,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $69,000 to the total package.
Base
$258,000
Equity
$39,000
Bonus
$25,000
Signing
$5,000
Estimated total: $327,000
How Fargo compares.
Fargo, ND
$258,000
Cost of living: 15% below average
National Average
$300,000
Fargo is $42,000 below
CTO salary by city.
Salary by role in Fargo.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for CTO roles in Fargo, here is what you are walking into. Fargo has a surprisingly strong technology sector, home to companies like Microsoft's campus and a growing startup ecosystem tied to North Dakota State University. The city's extremely low cost of living and emerging tech scene make it an increasingly attractive option for professionals seeking affordability. Years of experience, technology specialization, and system scale are the primary differentiators. CTOs who have built and maintained systems at scale, handled complex distributed systems challenges, or contributed to widely used open source projects command higher compensation. Company stage and funding level create additional variance.
Entry-level CTOs start near $234,000. Mid-career professionals with three to five years of experience reach $300,000 to $390,000. Senior-level roles command $384,000 to $465,000. Management transitions to director-level positions offer $495,000 and above. In Fargo, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 15% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at top-tier companies adds 30% to 60% above base salary. Annual bonuses of 15% to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common when changing roles. Refresher equity grants vest annually. Relocation packages and executive benefits like financial planning are typical. And on the tax side: north Dakota has a very low income tax with a top rate of just 2.5%. Fargo has no city income tax. The minimal tax burden combined with low living costs creates excellent take home pay. When someone quotes you $258,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight willingness to work on site. Fargo tech employers struggle to recruit talent to the region and reward candidates who commit to living locally. The range for CTOs in Fargo runs from $201,000 to $335,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A General Counsel in Fargo earns $238,000 (8% less)
- The highest-paying role in Fargo is General Counsel at $238,000
Common questions.
CTO salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Fargo.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"CTO Salary in Fargo, ND." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/cto/fargo
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