Ames, IA
Metropolitan Area · 2024 BLS OEWS data · Iowa statewide data
$56,505
Median Annual Wage
+19% since 2019
$54,650
Iowa Median
+3% vs state
47,310
Total Workers
256
Occupations Tracked
Ames, IA is a Metropolitan Area with 256 tracked occupations and an estimated 47,310 total workers. Wages grew an average of 22% from 2019 to 2024, with Management Occupations and Architecture and Engineering Occupations offering the highest median salaries.
Wages by Occupation Group
Top Occupations
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $230,900 |
| Chief Executives | $168,570 |
| Statisticians | $150,000 |
| Managers, All Other | $140,910 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $136,380 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,160 |
| Pharmacists | $132,400 |
| Human Resources Managers | $131,240 |
| Sales Managers | $128,100 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $127,190 |
Job Market Trends
2019 → 2024
+22%
avg wage growth since 2019
+27.3%
employment change since 2019
Fastest Wage Growth
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers Management Occupations |
+192.9%
$19,240 → $56,360
|
| Light Truck Drivers Transportation and Material Moving Occupations |
+96.0%
$20,450 → $40,090
|
| Food Service Managers Management Occupations |
+60.6%
$47,770 → $76,740
|
| Lawyers Legal Occupations |
+57.2%
$79,410 → $124,850
|
| Cooks, Restaurant Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations |
+55.2%
$23,400 → $36,310
|
Most Jobs Added
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Production Occupations |
+500.0%
40 → 260
|
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Office and Administrative Support Occupations |
+300.0%
90 → 420
|
| Compliance Officers Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
+200.0%
50 → 180
|
| Engineers, All Other Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
+200.0%
40 → 120
|
| Marketing Managers Management Occupations |
+100.0%
40 → 90
|
Wage Declines
| Coaches and Scouts Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations |
-29.5%
$43,530 → $30,700
|
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Management Occupations |
-19.4%
$57,310 → $46,200
|
| Physical Therapists Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
-19.4%
$107,260 → $86,440
|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
-9.2%
$66,470 → $60,340
|
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Personal Care and Service Occupations |
-9.0%
$36,180 → $32,930
|
Wage Trends in Ames, IA
View data table
| Year | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| 2024 latest | $56,505 |
| 2023 | $52,940 |
| 2022 | $49,610 |
| 2021 | $48,205 |
| 2020 | $47,340 |
| 2019 | $47,370 |