Occupations With the Highest Reported Median Wages in Ames, IA

320 occupations have a published Bureau of Labor Statistics median wage in Ames, IA for 2025. Rows are ordered by reported annual median wage.

Occupations

Occupation	Median annual wage	Employment	Salary page
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers	$46,540	70	View salary detail
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	$46,370	120	View salary detail
Emergency Medical Technicians	$46,000	30	View salary detail
Library Technicians	$45,880	40	View salary detail
Medical Assistants	$45,810	180	View salary detail
Office Clerks, General	$45,450	710	View salary detail
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping	$45,200	40	View salary detail
Data Entry Keyers	$45,140	50	View salary detail
Painters, Construction and Maintenance	$44,780	70	View salary detail
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers	$44,580	390	View salary detail
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services	$43,830	50	View salary detail
Nursing Assistants	$43,540	770	View salary detail
Food Processing Workers, All Other	$43,520	50	View salary detail
Tellers	$43,060	180	View salary detail
Customer Service Representatives	$42,820	690	View salary detail
Real Estate Brokers	$41,440	—	View salary detail
Opticians, Dispensing	$40,860	40	View salary detail
Parts Salespersons	$40,540	120	View salary detail
Recycling and Reclamation Workers	$40,280	650	View salary detail
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand	$40,280	650	View salary detail
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants	$40,210	420	View salary detail
Light Truck Drivers	$40,050	200	View salary detail
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers	$39,710	490	View salary detail
Pharmacy Technicians	$39,310	140	View salary detail
Helpers--Production Workers	$39,070	50	View salary detail
Counter and Rental Clerks	$38,780	100	View salary detail
Animal Caretakers	$38,700	190	View salary detail
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers	$38,300	90	View salary detail
Social and Human Service Assistants	$38,240	180	View salary detail
Phlebotomists	$38,240	40	View salary detail
Security Guards	$37,430	260	View salary detail
Coaches and Scouts	$36,740	110	View salary detail
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers	$36,720	30	View salary detail
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria	$36,540	380	View salary detail
Bakers	$36,520	90	View salary detail
Cooks, Restaurant	$36,410	570	View salary detail
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment	$36,390	110	View salary detail
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	$36,330	260	View salary detail
Stockers and Order Fillers	$36,240	1,110	View salary detail
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists	$36,170	170	View salary detail
Butchers and Meat Cutters	$36,110	160	View salary detail
Cooks, Short Order	$36,070	60	View salary detail
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	$35,300	1,030	View salary detail
Receptionists and Information Clerks	$35,170	170	View salary detail
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	$34,790	40	View salary detail
Packers and Packagers, Hand	$34,490	50	View salary detail
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	$32,830	260	View salary detail
Retail Salespersons	$32,460	1,460	View salary detail
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$32,150	110	View salary detail
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant	$31,840	180	View salary detail

Career and skills data: O*NET (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.