What is the average salary in Ames, IA?
$59,290a year
Average yearly pay across 246 jobs with official data in the Ames, IA metro area, weighted by employment. Each job below shows its median.
- Hourly
- $28.51
- Jobs with data
- 246
- Workers counted
- 48,070
Highest paying jobs
Median yearly pay.
| Family Medicine Physician | $248,000 |
| Chief Executive | $206,100 |
| Dentist | $164,000 |
| Pharmacist | $139,700 |
| Manager | $138,100 |
| Human Resources Manager | $137,400 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $137,000 |
| Sales Manager | $133,200 |
| Marketing Manager | $132,100 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $131,300 |
Most common jobs
Median yearly pay.
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,220 |
| Cashier | $29,230 |
| Retail Salesperson | $32,460 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $36,240 |
| Registered Nurse | $77,160 |
| General and Operations Manager | $97,700 |
| Janitor and Cleaner | $35,300 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $22,710 |
| Teaching Assistant | $30,420 |
| Nursing Assistant | $43,540 |
Management
- Administrative Services Manager$103,400
- Architectural and Engineering Manager$137,000
- Chief Executive$206,100
- Computer and Information Systems Manager$131,300
- Construction Manager$96,720
- Education Administrator$106,500
- Education and Childcare Administrator$47,660
- Facilities Manager$88,910
- Financial Manager$124,000
- Food Service Manager$62,590
- General and Operations Manager$97,700
- Human Resources Manager$137,400
- Industrial Production Manager$113,900
- Manager$138,100
- Marketing Manager$132,100
- Medical and Health Services Manager$103,700
- Natural Sciences Manager$116,500
- Property$55,600
- Sales Manager$133,200
- Social and Community Service Manager$63,770
- Transportation$104,900
Business and financial operations
- Accountant and Auditor$79,320
- Budget Analyst$84,030
- Business Operations Specialist$76,510
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent$68,880
- Compliance Officer$80,370
- Cost Estimator$76,920
- Financial and Investment Analyst$90,650
- Fundraiser$80,430
- Human Resources Specialist$70,060
- Loan Officer$84,470
- Logistician$75,620
- Management Analyst$88,510
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist$61,100
- Meeting$47,980
- Personal Financial Advisor$90,590
- Project Management Specialist$97,290
- Property Appraiser and Assessor$78,480
- Training and Development Specialist$67,860
Computer and mathematical
- Computer Network Architect$102,600
- Computer Network Support Specialist$82,360
- Computer Occupation$92,310
- Computer Programmer$77,720
- Computer Systems Analyst$96,920
- Computer User Support Specialist$63,830
- Data Scientist$79,430
- Information Security Analyst$107,500
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator$78,030
- Software Developer$129,400
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester$96,560
Architecture and engineering
- Architect$95,750
- Architectural and Civil Drafter$63,620
- Civil Engineer$100,200
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician$79,210
- Electrical Engineer$103,800
- Engineer$95,260
- Industrial Engineer$88,650
- Mechanical Engineer$98,610
Life, physical, and social science
- Agricultural Technician$48,430
- Biological Scientist$82,720
- Chemist$84,300
- Life$65,020
- Medical Scientist$93,720
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist$82,970
- Soil and Plant Scientist$65,080
Community and social service
- Child$46,370
- Educational$50,260
- Healthcare Social Worker$61,760
- Social and Human Service Assistant$38,240
- Substance Abuse$69,750
Legal
- Lawyer$125,200
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant$53,180
Educational instruction and library
- Elementary School Teacher$62,430
- Farm and Home Management Educator$60,840
- Instructional Coordinator$69,490
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist$60,610
- Library Technician$45,880
- Middle School Teacher$63,200
- Preschool Teacher$30,590
- Secondary School Teacher$63,450
- Self-Enrichment Teacher$29,570
- Special Education Teacher$63,480
- Substitute Teacher$36,330
- Teaching Assistant$30,420
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media
- Coach and Scout$36,740
- Graphic Designer$57,060
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$36,720
- Public Relations Specialist$62,970
Healthcare practitioners and technical
- Chiropractor$56,890
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician$56,380
- Dental Hygienist$89,130
- Dentist$164,000
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$82,110
- Emergency Medical Technician$46,000
- Family Medicine Physician$248,000
- Health Technologist and Technician$48,060
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse$65,610
- Medical Records Specialist$49,850
- Nurse Practitioner$127,600
- Occupational Therapist$73,810
- Optician$40,860
- Paramedic$62,920
- Pharmacist$139,700
- Pharmacy Technician$39,310
- Physical Therapist$90,610
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$66,760
- Registered Nurse$77,160
- Speech-Language Pathologist$83,170
- Veterinarian$118,200
- Veterinary Technologist and Technician$50,730
Healthcare support
- Dental Assistant$49,140
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide$35,660
- Medical Assistant$45,810
- Nursing Assistant$43,540
- Phlebotomist$38,240
- Physical Therapist Assistant$62,040
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$38,300
Protective service
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,410
- Firefighter$86,010
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$102,900
- Lifeguard$23,640
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$73,840
- Security Guard$37,430
Food preparation and serving
- Bartender$21,580
- Chef and Head Cook$51,360
- Cook$36,540
- Cook$36,410
- Cook$36,070
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$29,630
- Dishwasher$30,110
- Fast Food and Counter Worker$29,220
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker$39,710
- Food Preparation Worker$29,900
- Food Server$31,840
- Host and Hostess$28,480
- Waiter and Waitress$22,710
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
Personal care and service
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant$27,100
- Animal Caretaker$38,700
- Childcare Worker$27,850
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$32,150
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Worker$43,830
- Hairdresser$36,170
- Recreation Worker$31,110
- Residential Advisor$48,230
Sales and related
- Cashier$29,230
- Counter and Rental Clerk$38,780
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Worker$80,990
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Worker$48,300
- Insurance Sales Agent$63,400
- Parts Salesperson$40,540
- Real Estate Broker$41,440
- Retail Salesperson$32,460
- Sales Representative$105,300
- Sales Representative$68,680
- Sales Representatives of Service$63,230
- Security$62,050
Office and administrative support
- Billing and Posting Clerk$47,050
- Bookkeeping$47,970
- Court$57,800
- Customer Service Representative$42,820
- Data Entry Keyer$45,140
- Dispatcher$48,680
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$61,990
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Worker$66,420
- Human Resources Assistant$45,200
- Information and Record Clerk$53,710
- Library Assistant$30,070
- Loan Interviewer and Clerk$57,580
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant$40,210
- New Accounts Clerk$47,870
- Office and Administrative Support Worker$48,320
- Office Clerk$45,450
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk$56,920
- Postal Service Clerk$58,470
- Postal Service Mail Carrier$60,840
- Production$60,800
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$58,610
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$35,170
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant$48,740
- Shipping$47,840
- Teller$43,060
Farming, fishing, and forestry
- Agricultural Equipment Operator$47,610
Construction and extraction
- Carpenter$55,640
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$58,230
- Construction and Building Inspector$79,740
- Construction Laborer$49,810
- Electrician$63,320
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker$72,260
- Highway Maintenance Worker$60,980
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$62,400
- Painter$44,780
- Plumber$63,820
- Sheet Metal Worker$64,420
Installation, maintenance, and repair
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$58,790
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$58,820
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,360
- Control and Valve Installer and Repairer$83,010
- Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer$100,200
- Farm Equipment Mechanic and Service Technician$63,490
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanic$79,080
- Heating$60,430
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$67,250
- Installation$54,950
- Maintenance and Repair Worker$54,770
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic$64,940
- Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer$65,470
Production
- Baker$36,520
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$36,110
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender$62,300
- Coating$69,090
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$47,330
- Electrical$39,080
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker$74,160
- Food Batchmaker$50,950
- Food Processing Worker$43,520
- Helpers--Production Worker$39,070
- Inspector$61,820
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker$34,790
- Machinist$60,200
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator$49,360
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setter$52,020
- Multiple Machine Tool Setter$49,670
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender$48,250
- Prepress Technician and Worker$54,460
- Printing Press Operator$46,850
- Production Worker$70,690
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$61,730
- Welder$58,560
Transportation and material moving
- Bus Driver$54,780
- Cleaners of Vehicle and Equipment$36,390
- Driver/Sales Worker$28,760
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker$58,270
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver$54,510
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$48,310
- Laborer and Freight$40,280
- Light Truck Driver$40,050
- Packer and Packager$34,490
- Parking Attendant$31,070
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$47,810
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur$31,670
- Stocker and Order Filler$36,240
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Ames, IA?
About $59,290 a year ($28.51 an hour): the average of the 246 jobs with official data, weighted by how many people do each one.
What are the highest paying jobs in Ames, IA?
Family Medicine Physician ($248,000), Chief Executive ($206,100), Dentist ($164,000).
What are the most common jobs in Ames, IA?
Fast Food and Counter Worker (1,620 jobs), Cashier (1,470 jobs), Retail Salesperson (1,460 jobs).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.