Ames, IA
Metropolitan Area · 2024 BLS OEWS data · Iowa statewide data
$56,505
Median Annual Wage
+45% since 2014
$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 36.9% from 2014 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
2014 → 2024
+36.9%
avg wage growth since 2014
+31.4%
employment change since 2014
Fastest Wage Growth
| Residential Advisors Personal Care and Service Occupations |
+120.5%
$20,250 → $44,660
|
| Construction Managers Management Occupations |
+109.2%
$43,660 → $91,350
|
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Transportation and Material Moving Occupations |
+99.3%
$25,950 → $51,730
|
| Cooks, Restaurant Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations |
+90.3%
$19,080 → $36,310
|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Production Occupations |
+78.7%
$33,540 → $59,950
|
Most Jobs Added
| Compliance Officers Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
+500.0%
30 → 180
|
| Social and Human Service Assistants Community and Social Service Occupations |
+400.0%
40 → 200
|
| Recreation Workers Personal Care and Service Occupations |
+400.0%
40 → 210
|
| Social and Community Service Managers Management Occupations |
+300.0%
30 → 120
|
| Security Guards Protective Service Occupations |
+300.0%
40 → 170
|
Wage Declines
| Security Guards Protective Service Occupations |
-13.4%
$43,320 → $37,510
|
| Animal Caretakers Personal Care and Service Occupations |
-9.6%
$40,990 → $37,050
|
| Production Workers, All Other Production Occupations |
-6.7%
$41,440 → $38,650
|
| Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations |
-4.7%
$65,570 → $62,490
|
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 |
| 2018 | $44,405 |
| 2017 | $44,390 |
| 2016 | $42,995 |
| 2015 | $42,485 |
| 2014 | $39,060 |