Ames, IA

Metro Area · BLS OEWS 2022

In Ames, IA, BLS OEWS tracks wages for 225 detailed occupations covering about 37,490 jobs. Across occupations, local pay runs 12.9% below the national median on average.

Highest-Paying Occupations (2022)

"vs National" compares this area's median for each occupation to the U.S. national median — a positive number means the area pays a premium for that role.

Highest-paying occupations in Ames, IA, BLS OEWS 2022.
Occupation Median Annual vs National Employment
Family Medicine Physicians $231,120 +40.3% 60
Chief Executives $168,440 +93.9% 100
Architectural and Engineering Managers $132,240 -20% 100
Lawyers $130,950 -10.2% 100
Sales Managers $130,580 -3.4% 50
Pharmacists $129,060 -5.1% 60
Marketing Managers $128,660 -28.3% 70
Nurse Practitioners $122,180 -3.2% 70
Physician Assistants $121,980 -6.2% 40
Computer and Information Systems Managers $118,270 -30.2% 180
Managers, All Other $109,990 -17.6% 100
Human Resources Managers $108,850 -20.2% 40
Financial Managers $108,410 -3.2% 240
Software Developers $105,730 -36.5% 340
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $102,960 -0.5% 70
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products $100,600 +0.9% 50
Medical and Health Services Managers $99,010 -10.5% 190
Industrial Production Managers $98,040 -16.2% 80
Natural Sciences Managers $97,780 -38% 60
Industrial Engineers $97,230 -2.2% 210
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $95,420 -6.3% 70
Mechanical Engineers $93,950 +113.9% 210
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $93,590 -2.6% 30
Computer Systems Analysts $91,640 -36.4% 180
Civil Engineers $90,190 -45.9% 270

Largest Occupations by Employment (2022)

Largest occupations by employment in Ames, IA, BLS OEWS 2022.
Occupation Employment Median Annual
Cashiers 1,380 $27,150
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,290 $25,510
Retail Salespersons 1,140 $28,540
General and Operations Managers 970 $76,640
Registered Nurses 900 $64,540
Business Operations Specialists, All Other 800 $58,530
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 800 $32,240
Office Clerks, General 790 $40,380
Stockers and Order Fillers 690 $31,500
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 590 $27,280
Customer Service Representatives 580 $34,780
Waiters and Waitresses 560 $20,970
Cooks, Restaurant 510 $28,730
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 500 $44,760
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 480 $44,410
Nursing Assistants 470 $34,470
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 440 $46,510
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 430 $46,510
Accountants and Auditors 420 $65,440
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers 410 $36,250
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 410 $36,120
Bartenders 360 $20,840
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 350 $64,450
Software Developers 340 $105,730
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 340 $38,880
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