Light Truck Drivers pay range in Ames
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,830 or more. The middle half of light truck drivers in Ames earn between $31,390 and $53,140.
- $28K10th
- $31K25th
- $40KMedian
- $53K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,020 | $4,085 | $23.57 |
| Median | $40,050 | $3,338 | $19.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,390 | $2,616 | $15.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,140 | $4,428 | $25.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Light Truck Drivers salary after taxes in Ames
On the average salary of $49,020, a single filer in Ames takes home about $40,317 a year, or $3,360 a month and $1,551 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 light truck drivers? 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 $49,020 buys what about $55,184 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 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.
Light Truck Drivers salary in other Iowa cities
Ames ranks 3rd of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Cedar Rapids pays the most ($51,900).
- Cedar Rapids$51,900
- Davenport$49,460
- Ames$49,020
- Sioux City$47,390
- Des Moines$45,780
- Waterloo$45,500
- Dubuque$45,430
- Iowa City$44,470
Highest-paying cities for light truck drivers
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($64,130).
- Anchorage, AK$64,130
- Memphis, TN$59,140
- San Francisco, CA$58,770
- Decatur, IL$57,850
- San Jose, CA$57,840
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Light Truck Drivers salary in Ames: questions
How much do light truck drivers make an hour in Ames?
$23.57 an hour on average, and $19.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level light truck drivers salary in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the light truck drivers take-home pay in Ames?
About $40,317 a year ($3,360 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,020. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do light truck drivers earn more in Ames than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. metro average for this job ($49,279).
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 53-3033; area Ames, IA (11180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- 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 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.