Agricultural Equipment Operators pay range in Ames
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,000 or more. The middle half of agricultural equipment operators in Ames earn between $42,790 and $58,510.
- $35K10th
- $43K25th
- $48KMedian
- $59K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,890 | $4,074 | $23.50 |
| Median | $47,610 | $3,968 | $22.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,790 | $3,566 | $20.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,510 | $4,876 | $28.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Agricultural Equipment Operators pay in Ames vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Agricultural equipment operators in Ames earn about the same as the Iowa average ($49,480) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($43,710). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $41,730.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $48,890 | $47,610 | $34,810 | $64,000 | 30 |
| Iowa | $49,480 | $47,220 | $37,020 | $62,360 | 1,530 |
| United States | $43,710 | $41,730 | $33,500 | $58,650 | 28,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary after taxes in Ames
On the average salary of $48,890, a single filer in Ames takes home about $40,217 a year, or $3,351 a month and $1,547 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross 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.
Is Ames a good place for agricultural equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Ames area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $48,890 buys what about $55,038 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Ames ($50,220). A typical home costs $280,269, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in other Iowa cities
Ames ranks 3rd of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Dubuque pays the most ($51,190).
- Dubuque$51,190
- Sioux City$51,160
- Ames$48,890
- Des Moines$48,330
- Waterloo$47,930
- Iowa City$47,040
- Davenport$46,530
- Cedar Rapids$45,410
Highest-paying cities for agricultural equipment operators
Cincinnati, OH pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,160).
- Cincinnati, OH$54,160
- Minneapolis, MN$53,350
- Columbus, OH$52,240
- Lafayette, IN$51,310
- Indianapolis, IN$51,290
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Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in Ames: questions
How much do agricultural equipment operators make an hour in Ames?
$23.51 an hour on average, and $22.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level agricultural equipment operators salary in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the agricultural equipment operators take-home pay in Ames?
About $40,217 a year ($3,351 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,890. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do agricultural equipment operators earn more in Ames than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. average for this job ($43,710).
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. SOC code 45-2091; area Ames, IA (11180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- 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.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.96, this job is 3.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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