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Average salary by job family in Ames
| Management | $119,560 |
|---|---|
| Computer and Mathematical | $97,300 |
| Legal | $94,960 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $88,810 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $85,360 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $81,000 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $78,870 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $71,120 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $62,810 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | $60,140 |
| Construction and Extraction | $60,100 |
| Community and Social Service | $58,050 |
| Protective Service | $57,830 |
| Production | $53,710 |
| Office and Administrative Support | $48,510 |
| Sales and Related | $46,400 |
| Transportation and Material Moving | $46,170 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | $45,690 |
| Healthcare Support | $41,650 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | $38,780 |
| Personal Care and Service | $36,060 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | $32,070 |
Highest-paying jobs in Ames
- Family Medicine Physicians$320,880
- Chief Executives$222,990
- Dentists, General$178,120
- Human Resources Managers$154,530
- Computer and Information Systems Managers$147,790
- Sales Managers$145,890
- Financial Managers$142,550
- Marketing Managers$142,150
- Architectural and Engineering Managers$139,740
- Pharmacists$138,250
Most common jobs in Ames and what they pay
| Job | Jobs | Average salary | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,620 | $29,560 | $29,220 |
| Cashiers | 1,470 | $30,470 | $29,230 |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,460 | $35,090 | $32,460 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,110 | $38,070 | $36,240 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,070 | $76,910 | $77,160 |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,040 | $112,350 | $97,700 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,030 | $36,360 | $35,300 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,010 | $29,250 | $22,710 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 780 | $30,720 | $30,420 |
| Nursing Assistants | 770 | $42,980 | $43,540 |
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Cost of living in Ames
Prices in the Ames area are 11% below the U.S. average, with a BEA price parity of 88.8 for 2024. The average local salary of $61,910 therefore buys what $69,695 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. A typical home is worth $280,269, 3.9 times the median household income of $71,090.
$280,269typical home value
$71,090median household income
88.8BEA price parity
125,261metro population
Take-home pay in Ames
| Salary level | Gross | After tax | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile wage | $36,500 | $30,733 | $2,561 |
| Median wage | $50,220 | $41,235 | $3,436 |
| Average wage | $61,910 | $50,184 | $4,182 |
| 75th percentile wage | $76,070 | $60,066 | $5,006 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Salaries for every job in Ames
Management21 jobs
- Chief Executives$223K
- Human Resources Managers$155K
- Computer and Information Systems Managers$148K
- Sales Managers$146K
- Financial Managers$143K
- Marketing Managers$142K
- Architectural and Engineering Managers$140K
- Managers, All Other$138K
- Natural Sciences Managers$127K
- Industrial Production Managers$122K
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$116K
- Medical and Health Services Managers$115K
- General and Operations Managers$112K
- Administrative Services Managers$110K
- Construction Managers$107K
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$105K
- Facilities Managers$96K
- Food Service Managers$73K
- Social and Community Service Managers$70K
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$60K
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$52K
Computer and Mathematical11 jobs
- Software Developers$127K
- Information Security Analysts$107K
- Computer Occupations, All Other$103K
- Computer Network Architects$102K
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$101K
- Computer Systems Analysts$97K
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators$90K
- Data Scientists$89K
- Computer Programmers$89K
- Computer Network Support Specialists$78K
- Computer User Support Specialists$70K
Legal2 jobs
Architecture and Engineering8 jobs
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical22 jobs
- Family Medicine Physicians$321K
- Dentists, General$178K
- Pharmacists$138K
- Nurse Practitioners$131K
- Veterinarians$129K
- Physical Therapists$92K
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$88K
- Dental Hygienists$87K
- Speech-Language Pathologists$82K
- Occupational Therapists$78K
- Registered Nurses$77K
- Chiropractors$71K
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$66K
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65K
- Paramedics$62K
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$56K
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$56K
- Medical Records Specialists$51K
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$50K
- Emergency Medical Technicians$46K
- Opticians, Dispensing$43K
- Pharmacy Technicians$43K
Business and Financial Operations18 jobs
- Personal Financial Advisors$111K
- Project Management Specialists$108K
- Loan Officers$96K
- Management Analysts$94K
- Financial and Investment Analysts$93K
- Accountants and Auditors$85K
- Property Appraisers and Assessors$83K
- Budget Analysts$82K
- Fundraisers$81K
- Cost Estimators$81K
- Compliance Officers$80K
- Logisticians$79K
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78K
- Training and Development Specialists$77K
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents$75K
- Human Resources Specialists$75K
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$67K
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$53K
Life, Physical, and Social Science7 jobs
Educational Instruction and Library12 jobs
- Instructional Coordinators$73K
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$66K
- Farm and Home Management Educators$64K
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64K
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$64K
- Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$64K
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$62K
- Library Technicians$47K
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$37K
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$35K
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$35K
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$31K
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair13 jobs
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97K
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$83K
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$80K
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers$69K
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics$69K
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$68K
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66K
- Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$63K
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62K
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62K
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$59K
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$55K
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$54K
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media4 jobs
Construction and Extraction11 jobs
- Construction and Building Inspectors$77K
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76K
- Electricians$66K
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$66K
- Sheet Metal Workers$64K
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$63K
- Highway Maintenance Workers$59K
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57K
- Carpenters$55K
- Construction Laborers$52K
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance$48K
Community and Social Service5 jobs
Protective Service6 jobs
Production22 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74K
- Production Workers, All Other$64K
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63K
- Machinists$63K
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62K
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$60K
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60K
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56K
- Prepress Technicians and Workers$55K
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52K
- Printing Press Operators$52K
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$51K
- Food Batchmakers$51K
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51K
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$49K
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$46K
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$43K
- Food Processing Workers, All Other$42K
- Helpers--Production Workers$41K
- Butchers and Meat Cutters$37K
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$35K
- Bakers$35K
Office and Administrative Support25 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$68K
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64K
- Postal Service Mail Carriers$63K
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61K
- Public Safety Telecommunicators$59K
- Postal Service Clerks$58K
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$58K
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$57K
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks$56K
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$54K
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other$52K
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$50K
- New Accounts Clerks$49K
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$48K
- Billing and Posting Clerks$48K
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$48K
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$48K
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$47K
- Office Clerks, General$46K
- Data Entry Keyers$46K
- Customer Service Representatives$45K
- Tellers$42K
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$42K
- Library Assistants, Clerical$37K
- Receptionists and Information Clerks$36K
Sales and Related12 jobs
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$117K
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$96K
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$95K
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$77K
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$71K
- Insurance Sales Agents$69K
- Real Estate Brokers$62K
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$52K
- Parts Salespersons$45K
- Counter and Rental Clerks$42K
- Retail Salespersons$35K
- Cashiers$30K
Transportation and Material Moving13 jobs
- Bus Drivers, School$61K
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$61K
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56K
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$49K
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$49K
- Light Truck Drivers$49K
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$42K
- Stockers and Order Fillers$38K
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$37K
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$37K
- Driver/Sales Workers$35K
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$34K
- Parking Attendants$31K
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry1 jobs
Healthcare Support7 jobs
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance5 jobs
Personal Care and Service8 jobs
- Residential Advisors$50K
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$46K
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$42K
- Animal Caretakers$40K
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$35K
- Recreation Workers$32K
- Childcare Workers$29K
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants$27K
Food Preparation and Serving Related13 jobs
- Chefs and Head Cooks$59K
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$43K
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37K
- Cooks, Restaurant$37K
- Cooks, Short Order$36K
- Food Preparation Workers$33K
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$32K
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31K
- Dishwashers$31K
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$30K
- Waiters and Waitresses$29K
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$28K
- Bartenders$25K
Average salary in nearby cities
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Salary in Ames: questions
What is a good salary in Ames?
Half of all workers in the Ames metro earn less than $50,220 and the average is $61,910. Earning more than $76,070 puts you in the top quarter of local wages.
How much do you need to earn in Ames to match a $70,751 salary elsewhere?
About $62,848, because prices here are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8).
What are the highest-paying jobs in Ames?
Family Medicine Physicians ($320,880), Chief Executives ($222,990), Dentists, General ($178,120).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. Area Ames, IA (11180), all occupations and 246 individual jobs.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.