Ames Employment

Employment and Industries in the Ames, Iowa Area

Federal and state institutions are Ames' primary employers. Iowa State University is the largest employer. Numerous jobs are provided by the technology companies affiliated with the university's research park. The major job providing sectors in Ames include education, government, professional, scientific and technical services; accommodation and food services; and healthcare.

Jobs are also located in manufacturing industries such as containers, business forms, abrasives and metal products. Ames also has numerous computer specialists, post secondary teachers and life and physical scientists. Approximately 45% of the workforce is employed in management, professional and related occupations.

Ames is also home to the Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, the prominent materials research and development center. Notable companies located in Ames include 3M, Sauer-Danfoss, Ball, Becker Underwood, Syngenta, Boehringer Ingleheim and Hach.

The top companies in Ames based on the number of employees are:

Iowa State University
Iowa Department of Transportation
Mary Greeley Medical Center
McFarland Clinic PC
Sauer-Danfoss
City of Ames
Ames Community School
Ames Laboratories
Hach Companies
3M
Hy-Vee Food Stores
Sigler Companies
Ames Tribune
Barilla American Inc
Ball Corporation
First National Bank
Kmart
JC Penney
Kreg Tool
MH EBY, Inc
Nikkel & Associates
Sam's Club
UGS
Story Construction
Walmart

Noteworthy information about Ames Iowa: Placed in the "Top 20 best places to live and work" list by Employment Review magazine and BestJobsUSA.com. Named a "Five-Star quality of life metro" by Expansion Management Magazine. The cost of living index in 2008 was 87.1. The country's average is 100. About 59% of the adult population has earned a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2009 the average salary in Ames was $33,000.

Local businesses are provided help by organizations such as:

Ames newspaper the Ames Tribune is a good resource for local business and industry news.

Where the Majority of Workers Have College Degrees

Rank	Title	Local Jobs	Local Mean Salary	Typical Local Salary	National Growth % 2006-2016	National % With College Degree
1	Registered nurses	710	56,210	$39,730 - 67,130	24%	56%
2	Teachers and instructors, all other	380	47,050	$27,870 - 69,410	9%	54%
3	Biological technicians	350	36,910	$17,920 - 56,700	16%	60%
4	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	290	48,350	$19,630 - 75,930	8%	51%
5	Accountants and auditors	260	53,400	$36,930 - 74,820	18%	79%
6	Civil engineers	260	76,210	$49,820 - 101,010	18%	87%
7	Computer systems analysts	250	63,200	$47,340 - 83,470	29%	68%
8	Elementary school teachers, except special education	210	40,230	$26,660 - 55,800	14%	95%
9	Computer specialists, all other	190	52,530	$36,420 - 72,950	15%	68%
10	Medical and health services managers	170	76,940	$33,870 - 124,590	16%	57%
11	Network and computer systems administrators	140	58,560	$39,320 - 79,090	27%	50%
12	Training and development specialists	140	48,030	$30,380 - 62,330	18%	56%
13	Public relations specialists	140	47,790	$34,810 - 65,510	18%	81%
14	Managers, all other	130	68,940	$40,680 - 113,140	7%	55%
15	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	130	63,300	$27,030 - 109,530	12%	51%
16	Computer programmers	120	53,270	$28,860 - 85,600	0%	73%
17	Social and human service assistants	110	23,690	$17,050 - 31,840	34%	58%
18	Financial managers	110	98,670	$59,230 - 137,050	13%	60%
19	Management analysts	110	57,940	$39,860 - 78,830	22%	78%
20	Soil and plant scientists	100	57,730	$39,220 - 82,650	8%	82%
21	Educational, vocational, and school counselors	90	42,620	$35,450 - 54,490	13%	73%
22	Pharmacists	80	87,020	$67,670 - 121,370	22%	97%
23	Medical and clinical laboratory technicians	70	38,530	$30,190 - 50,210	15%	51%
24	Graphic designers	70	40,830	$24,290 - 58,830	10%	55%
25	Chief executives	70	150,570	$76,710 -	2%	65%
26	Architects, except landscape and naval	60	58,930	$35,020 - 88,780	18%	88%
27	Community and social service specialists, all other	60	33,220	$19,800 - 49,070	25%	58%
28	Veterinarians	60	77,130	$48,000 - 105,860	35%	100%
29	Lawyers	60	82,750	$58,140 - 128,230	11%	99%
30	Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	60	47,340	$30,470 - 65,780	12%	51%
31	Industrial engineers	60	68,900	$46,650 - 104,710	20%	74%
32	Special education teachers, middle school	50	46,860	$33,940 - 61,390	16%	87%
33	Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	50	79,000	$55,290 - 96,450	8%	78%
34	Computer and information systems managers	50	88,450	$57,420 - 111,290	16%	73%
35	Network systems and data communications analysts	50		$ -	53%	57%
36	Reporters and correspondents	50	20,220	$17,410 - 24,430	1%	85%
37	Editors	50	36,600	$19,320 - 55,490	2%	81%
38	Engineering managers	50	95,190	$65,900 - 126,770	7%	84%
39	Mechanical engineers	50	78,250	$44,770 -	4%	78%
40	Social and community service managers	40	47,570	$22,650 - 83,450	25%	72%
41	Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents	40	63,810	$29,180 - 96,430	25%	67%
42	Engineers, all other	40	63,730	$37,210 - 102,110	6%	82%
43	Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	40	59,400	$43,140 - 84,110	5%	58%
44	Librarians	40	39,410	$20,670 - 65,880	4%	85%
45	Legislators	30	30,130	$15,370 - 58,160	1%	65%
46	Food scientists and technologists	30	58,740	$31,160 - 96,170	10%	82%
47	Market research analysts	30	54,400	$32,240 - 109,280	20%	82%
48	Advertising sales agents	30	27,190	$20,000 - 42,880	20%	56%
49	Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists	30	37,010	$25,590 - 58,560	18%	56%

Where the Majority of Workers Do Not Have College Degrees

Rank	Title	Local Jobs	Local Mean Salary	Typical Local Salary	National Growth % 2006-2016	National % With College Degree
1	Retail salespersons	1,410	23,660	$15,340 - 35,770	12%	25%
2	Cashiers	1,140	19,900	$15,480 - 24,950	-2%	10%
3	Office clerks, general	1,130	30,300	$17,220 - 47,010	13%	19%
4	Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	1,060	16,460	$15,190 - 19,020	18%	5%
5	Waiters and waitresses	930	20,040	$15,230 - 30,140	11%	14%
6	Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	830	35,340	$21,890 - 47,740	1%	18%
7	Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	790	24,980	$17,390 - 33,500	15%	4%
8	Business operations specialists, all other	700	51,590	$35,270 - 70,230	21%	49%
9	Stock clerks and order fillers	610	27,210	$16,020 - 41,530	-7%	8%
10	Maintenance and repair workers, general	570	35,890	$21,360 - 51,800	10%	6%
11	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	560	31,460	$21,120 - 42,440	13%	16%
12	Food preparation workers	530	17,750	$15,320 - 21,920	15%	7%
13	Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	530	24,590	$15,720 - 39,350	18%	6%
14	First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	400	36,680	$21,490 - 50,610	4%	25%
15	Receptionists and information clerks	400	23,310	$15,870 - 31,460	17%	13%
16	Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	390	39,760	$26,490 - 52,910	15%	18%
17	Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	380	25,510	$20,690 - 31,770	18%	7%
18	Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	360	25,360	$17,200 - 42,830	2%	5%
19	Cooks, restaurant	300	19,430	$16,140 - 25,640	12%	5%
20	General and operations managers	290	92,020	$36,140 -	2%	48%
21	Teacher assistants	290	21,310	$15,420 - 28,150	10%	18%
22	Cooks, institution and cafeteria	280	26,530	$18,570 - 33,690	11%	5%
23	Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	280	32,050	$17,480 - 46,240	10%	4%
24	First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	260	27,230	$17,070 - 40,770	11%	14%
25	First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	250	53,530	$32,190 - 81,210	-4%	15%
26	Cooks, fast food	250	16,350	$15,200 - 18,720	8%	5%
27	Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	230	17,570	$15,350 - 20,570	10%	8%
28	Maids and housekeeping cleaners	220	21,330	$16,090 - 30,540	13%	5%
29	Printing machine operators	220	35,490	$23,930 - 43,430	-5%	6%
30	Child care workers	220	16,760	$15,190 - 19,670	18%	15%
31	Personal and home care aides	220	21,030	$16,670 - 26,120	51%	10%
32	Automotive service technicians and mechanics	210	41,560	$22,150 - 64,750	14%	4%
33	Carpenters	210	32,950	$22,180 - 43,500	10%	6%
34	Construction laborers	200	32,410	$27,580 - 39,490	11%	5%
35	Customer service representatives	200	28,320	$17,860 - 42,500	25%	22%
36	Tellers	190	23,190	$16,830 - 30,780	14%	16%
37	Electricians	190	40,650	$28,160 - 54,510	7%	7%
38	Bartenders	190	17,190	$15,250 - 21,170	11%	17%
39	Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	180	32,890	$22,490 - 47,370	9%	3%
40	Sales representatives, services, all other	170	40,590	$26,150 - 63,490	28%	48%
41	Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	160	29,860	$20,580 - 38,520	4%	6%
42	Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders	150	25,780	$17,110 - 39,200	-4%	5%
43	Packers and packagers, hand	150	20,270	$15,570 - 26,320	-11%	3%
44	Counter and rental clerks	150	19,110	$15,310 - 24,900	23%	16%
45	Industrial truck and tractor operators	150	29,620	$21,480 - 40,360	-1%	2%
46	Dishwashers	140	16,280	$15,170 - 18,990	10%	3%
47	Helpers--production workers	140	23,540	$18,350 - 30,870	0%	4%
48	Preschool teachers, except special education	140	19,290	$15,700 - 24,060	26%	43%
49	Loan officers	130	63,860	$41,350 - 94,610	12%	49%
50	Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	130	18,970	$15,380 - 29,350	10%	17%
51	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	130	35,190	$27,960 - 42,210	14%	7%
52	First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	130	45,930	$27,470 - 63,820	6%	29%
53	Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	130	26,090	$15,480 - 48,250	12%	6%
54	Machinists	130	34,800	$23,600 - 50,140	-2%	3%
55	First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	120	61,960	$45,210 - 79,570	9%	10%
56	Library assistants, clerical	120	37,040	$16,750 - 52,430	8%	37%
57	Truck drivers, light or delivery services	120	20,500	$15,760 - 26,690	8%	4%
58	Medical records and health information technicians	120	23,590	$17,000 - 33,250	18%	12%
59	Nonfarm animal caretakers	110	26,250	$15,500 - 38,740	18%	16%
60	Construction managers	110	73,370	$19,790 - 115,700	16%	29%
61	Police and sheriff's patrol officers	110	47,400	$30,350 - 63,860	11%	33%
62	First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	110	57,430	$36,380 - 79,940	7%	13%
63	Prepress technicians and workers	110	35,670	$23,750 - 48,870	-20%	16%
64	Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	110	30,800	$22,580 - 38,950	5%	2%
65	Computer support specialists	100	42,600	$23,790 - 62,480	13%	43%
66	Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	100	49,180	$30,770 - 67,830	0%	42%
67	Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	100	28,280	$20,760 - 38,210	4%	15%
68	Food service managers	100	41,530	$20,610 - 67,020	5%	24%
69	Medical assistants	90	29,580	$22,360 - 37,730	35%	10%
70	Cost estimators	90	50,770	$34,840 - 65,610	19%	32%
71	Bus drivers, school	90	29,560	$15,920 - 38,950	9%	4%
72	Industrial machinery mechanics	90	38,460	$20,920 - 58,720	9%	5%
73	Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers	90	40,140	$22,810 - 59,240	-6%	14%
74	Food cooking machine operators and tenders	90	21,770	$16,520 - 32,770	-4%	0%
75	Postal service mail carriers	90			1%	11%
76	Civil engineering technicians	90	46,420	$31,090 - 64,280	10%	18%
77	Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators	80	42,480	$28,180 - 62,950	9%	47%
78	Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	80	38,410	$26,000 - 60,640	12%	3%
79	Word processors and typists	80	32,620	$22,530 - 41,400	-11%	19%
80	Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	80	20,730	$15,890 - 29,530	17%	14%
81	Cement masons and concrete finishers	80	34,400	$26,800 - 46,130	11%	2%
82	Real estate sales agents	80	53,850	$33,570 - 74,010	11%	45%
83	Administrative services managers	80	81,630	$53,820 - 118,120	12%	40%
84	Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators	70	38,050	$25,990 - 49,330	8%	4%
85	Security guards	70	22,450	$17,260 - 30,250	17%	13%
86	Veterinary technologists and technicians	70	33,170	$20,980 - 48,940	41%	16%
87	Radiologic technologists and technicians	70	43,790	$33,620 - 60,390	15%	25%
88	Medical secretaries	70	26,860	$15,380 - 44,480	17%	18%
89	Opticians, dispensing	70	26,290	$18,170 - 34,630	9%	15%
90	Medical transcriptionists	70			14%	10%
91	Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors	70	28,060	$15,310 - 41,260	27%	47%
92	Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers	70	54,260	$44,520 - 63,760	3%	13%
93	Pharmacy technicians	70	25,640	$19,610 - 32,220	32%	16%
94	Bindery workers	60	26,030	$17,250 - 37,060	-21%	7%
95	Automotive body and related repairers	60	35,000	$22,440 - 53,640	12%	3%
96	Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers	60	16,860	$15,220 - 20,050	12%	6%
97	Dental hygienists	60	65,590	$55,450 - 80,840	30%	33%
98	Postsecondary teachers, all other	60	73,140	$15,470 - 141,590	0%	0%
99	Residential advisors	60	23,240	$15,280 - 33,540	19%	28%
100	Home health aides	60	24,280	$17,430 - 31,930	49%	7%

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Jobs More Common Near Ames Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs	Pop. vs. Avg.*
Soil and plant scientists	57,730	100	111.1
Biological technicians	36,910	350	25.9
Prepress technicians and workers	35,670	110	7.9
Printing machine operators	35,490	220	4.8
Library assistants, clerical	37,040	120	4.7
Computer specialists, all other	52,530	190	3.9
Civil engineers	76,210	260	3.9
Cooks, institution and cafeteria	26,530	280	3.6
Nonfarm animal caretakers	26,250	110	3.5
Teachers and instructors, all other	47,050	380	3.2
Medical records and health information technicians	23,590	120	3
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	32,890	180	2.8
Training and development specialists	48,030	140	2.7
Medical and health services managers	76,940	170	2.7
Business operations specialists, all other	51,590	700	2.7
Food preparation workers	17,750	530	2.5
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	24,590	530	2.4
Public relations specialists	47,790	140	2.2
Food service managers	41,530	100	2.1
Personal and home care aides	21,030	220	2
Cooks, fast food	16,350	250	2
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders	25,780	150	1.9
Construction managers	73,370	110	1.9
Computer systems analysts	63,200	250	1.9
Maintenance and repair workers, general	35,890	570	1.9
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	35,340	830	1.8
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	17,570	230	1.8
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	53,530	250	1.7
Loan officers	63,860	130	1.6
Network and computer systems administrators	58,560	140	1.6
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	16,460	1,060	1.6
Office clerks, general	30,300	1,130	1.6
Waiters and waitresses	20,040	930	1.6
Bartenders	17,190	190	1.6
Child care workers	16,760	220	1.6
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	24,980	790	1.5
Social and human service assistants	23,690	110	1.5
Preschool teachers, except special education	19,290	140	1.5
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	18,970	130	1.5
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	26,090	130	1.5
Receptionists and information clerks	23,310	400	1.5
Managers, all other	68,940	130	1.4
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	36,680	400	1.4
Machinists	34,800	130	1.4
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	49,180	100	1.4
Tellers	23,190	190	1.4
Cooks, restaurant	19,430	300	1.4
Counter and rental clerks	19,110	150	1.4
Cashiers	19,900	1,140	1.4
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	41,560	210	1.3

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Ames, Iowa Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Salary Index *	Local Jobs
Library assistants, clerical	37,040	1.55	120
Nonfarm animal caretakers	26,250	1.27	110
Teachers and instructors, all other	47,050	1.24	380
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	35,340	1.21	830
Stock clerks and order fillers	27,210	1.19	610
Office clerks, general	30,300	1.19	1,130
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	41,560	1.15	210
Cooks, institution and cafeteria	26,530	1.12	280
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	21,330	1.11	220
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	24,980	1.09	790
Printing machine operators	35,490	1.08	220
Loan officers	63,860	1.08	130
Cashiers	19,900	1.07	1,140
Waiters and waitresses	20,040	1.07	930
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	18,970	1.07	130
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	61,960	1.07	120
Financial managers	98,670	1.06	110
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	25,510	1.06	380
Personal and home care aides	21,030	1.05	220
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	25,360	1.05	360
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	29,860	1.05	160
Maintenance and repair workers, general	35,890	1.04	570
Construction laborers	32,410	1.04	200
Civil engineers	76,210	1.04	260
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	26,090	1.04	130
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	39,760	1.03	390
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	45,930	1.02	130
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	24,590	1.01	530
Prepress technicians and workers	35,670	1.01	110
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	53,530	1.01	250
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	57,430	1.01	110
Helpers--production workers	23,540	1	140
Packers and packagers, hand	20,270	0.99	150
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders	25,780	0.99	150
Industrial truck and tractor operators	29,620	0.99	150
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	17,570	0.98	230
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	31,460	0.98	560
Tellers	23,190	0.98	190
Police and sheriff's patrol officers	47,400	0.98	110
Receptionists and information clerks	23,310	0.97	400
Retail salespersons	23,660	0.97	1,410
Biological technicians	36,910	0.96	350
Teacher assistants	21,310	0.96	290
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	16,460	0.96	1,060
General and operations managers	92,020	0.95	290
Customer service representatives	28,320	0.95	200
Network and computer systems administrators	58,560	0.95	140
Training and development specialists	48,030	0.95	140
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	36,680	0.95	400
Public relations specialists	47,790	0.95	140

Highest Paying Jobs in Ames, Iowa Metro Area (2008 data)

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs
Chief executives	150,570	70
Industrial production managers	100,390	50
Financial managers	98,670	110
Engineering managers	95,190	50
General and operations managers	92,020	290
Computer and information systems managers	88,450	50
Pharmacists	87,020	80
Lawyers	82,750	60
Administrative services managers	81,630	80
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	79,000	50
Mechanical engineers	78,250	50
Veterinarians	77,130	60
Medical and health services managers	76,940	170
Civil engineers	76,210	260
Construction managers	73,370	110
Computer software engineers, applications	73,330
Postsecondary teachers, all other	73,140	60
Chemists	71,170
Managers, all other	68,940	130
Industrial engineers	68,900	60
Dental hygienists	65,590	60
Loan officers	63,860	130
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents	63,810	40
Engineers, all other	63,730	40
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	63,300	130
Computer systems analysts	63,200	250
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	61,960	120
First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers	59,470	40
Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	59,400	40
First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives	59,230	40
Architects, except landscape and naval	58,930	60
Food scientists and technologists	58,740	30
Network and computer systems administrators	58,560	140
Management analysts	57,940	110
Soil and plant scientists	57,730	100
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	57,430	110
Registered nurses	56,210	710
Market research analysts	54,400	30
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers	54,260	70
Real estate sales agents	53,850	80
Industrial engineering technicians	53,580	50
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	53,530	250
Accountants and auditors	53,400	260
Computer programmers	53,270	120
Construction and building inspectors	53,160	30
Computer specialists, all other	52,530	190
Business operations specialists, all other	51,590	700
Cost estimators	50,770	90
Electrical and electronic engineering technicians	50,590	50
First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators	49,750	40