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  1. Home/
  2. Salaries/
  3. Lead IT Service Manager/
  4. Fargo

Lead IT Service Manager.

Fargo.

$132,000

median salary, 15% below the national average

$103,000 to $172,000. Last updated April 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

A Lead IT Service Manager in Fargo earns a median of $132,000 in 2026. That is 15% below the national average. The range runs from $103,000 to $172,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$103,000

per year

Median

$132,000

per year

75th Percentile

$172,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$103,000$172,000

Salary by experience

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $119,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$86,000

to $106,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$112,000

to $139,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$145,000

to $172,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$165,000

to $205,000

Salary trend

+4% YoY
$113,000
2022
$117,000
2023
$122,000
2024
$127,000
2025
$132,000
2026

Total compensation

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $39,000 to the total package.

Base

$132,000

Equity

$22,000

Bonus

$14,000

Signing

$3,000

Estimated total: $171,000

How Fargo compares

Fargo, ND

$132,000

Cost of living: 15% below average

National Average

$155,000

Fargo is $23,000 below

Lead IT Service Manager salary by city

Lead IT Service Manager salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$212,000$165,000 – $276,0001.38x$154,000
San Francisco, CA$205,000$160,000 – $267,0001.35x$152,000
Honolulu, HI$199,000$156,000 – $260,0001.30x$153,000
New York, NY$198,000$155,000 – $259,0001.28x$155,000
Seattle, WA$194,000$152,000 – $253,0001.24x$156,000
Washington DC, DC$194,000$151,000 – $253,0001.25x$155,000
Jersey City, NJ$190,000$148,000 – $247,0001.20x$158,000
San Diego, CA$189,000$147,000 – $246,0001.17x$162,000
Boston, MA$185,000$145,000 – $242,0001.22x$152,000
Fargo, ND$132,000$103,000 – $172,0000.85x$155,000

See all 81 cities for Lead IT Service Manager →

Salary by role in Fargo

Salary comparison by role in Fargo
RoleMedianRange
Principal AI Research Scientist$306,000$239,000 – $398,000
Technical Fellow$300,000$234,000 – $391,000
Principal Quantitative Researcher$295,000$230,000 – $383,000
Lead IT Service Manager$132,000$103,000 – $172,000
AI API Developer$132,000$100,000 – $172,000
Model Registry Manager$132,000$100,000 – $173,000
Model Vulnerability Analyst$132,000$99,000 – $173,000
AI Energy Grid Specialist$132,000$98,000 – $175,000

What you should know

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. That is the backdrop for every Lead IT Service Manager offer you will see here.

One thing people overlook: taxes. 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. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.

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 Lead IT Service Managers in Fargo runs from $103,000 to $172,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology

Interactive

Is your offer competitive?

Enter your Lead IT Service Manager offer to see where you stand in Fargo.

$

25th

$103,000

Median

$132,000

75th

$172,000

Considering a related role?

  • A AI Frontend Engineer in Fargo earns $133,000 (1% more)
  • The highest-paying role in Fargo is Principal AI Research Scientist at $306,000

Common questions.

Relevant certifications can add 5 to 15% to a Lead IT Service Manager's base salary in Fargo. Industry recognized credentials signal commitment and expertise to employers. In a market where the range spans $103,000 to $172,000, certifications often bridge the gap between the 50th and 75th percentile.

Fargo's cost of living multiplier is 0.85x the national average. The adjusted median Lead IT Service Manager salary of $132,000 accounts for this. In practice, a Lead IT Service Manager earning $132,000 in Fargo has roughly the same purchasing power as someone earning $155,294 in an average cost market.

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. For Lead IT Service Managers specifically, the median salary of $132,000 reflects that demand.

Fargo's cost of living is 15% 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. Calculate your actual take home pay after housing, taxes, and transportation before deciding. A $132,000 salary here buys a different lifestyle than the same number in another market.

Entry level Lead IT Service Manager positions in Fargo typically start near $103,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $132,000.

Lead IT Service Manager salary in other cities

Philadelphia$171,000
Phoenix$149,000
Portland$174,000
Pittsburgh$140,000
Portland$166,000
Providence$166,000

Other salaries in Fargo

Zero Trust Architect$145,000
Zendesk Developer$94,000
Zendesk Administrator$74,000
Accountant$62,000

Related

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Lead IT Service Manager Salary in Fargo, ND." Orbyt Salary Explorer, April 2026. https://www.orbytjobs.ai/salaries/lead-it-service-manager/fargo

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