Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay range in Ames
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,930 or more. The middle half of secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Ames earn between $59,290 and $77,320.
- $48K10th
- $59K25th
- $63KMedian
- $77K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,610 | $5,468 | — |
| Median | $63,450 | $5,288 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,290 | $4,941 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,320 | $6,443 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in Ames vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Ames earn 6% more than the Iowa average ($61,860) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($76,320). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $72,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $65,610 | $63,450 | $48,450 | $81,930 | 310 |
| Iowa | $61,860 | $61,200 | $47,480 | $79,270 | 12,310 |
| United States | $76,320 | $72,040 | $48,780 | $107,600 | 1,065,210 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary after taxes in Ames
On the average salary of $65,610, a single filer in Ames takes home about $53,016 a year, or $4,418 a month and $2,039 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education)? 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 $65,610 buys what about $73,860 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Ames ($50,220). A typical home costs $280,269, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in other Iowa cities
Ames ranks 4th of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Davenport pays the most ($68,160).
- Davenport$68,160
- Cedar Rapids$65,810
- Iowa City$65,750
- Ames$65,610
- Des Moines$64,410
- Waterloo$61,260
- Sioux City$60,950
- Dubuque$60,930
All Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries in Iowa
Highest-paying cities for secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education)
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($119,470).
- San Francisco, CA$119,470
- San Diego, CA$116,110
- San Jose, CA$111,240
- Napa, CA$107,690
- Mount Vernon, WA$107,640
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by city
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Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Ames: questions
What is the entry-level secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) salary in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) take-home pay in Ames?
About $53,016 a year ($4,418 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,610. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) earn more in Ames than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($76,320).
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 25-2031; area Ames, IA (11180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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