Ames Employment

Employment and Industries in the Ames, Iowa Area

The tables here illustrate essential information about work and employment in the area. Information includes:

A table of the most numerous types of work found here, both for jobs generally requiring college degrees and jobs not requiring college degrees.
A table listing those careers significantly more common in Ames than in other US cities; this is useful both for career planning and for understanding the nature of Ames.
A list of the highest-paying jobs in Ames.
A list of any large public companies in Ames.

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	Teachers and instructors, all other	450	41,130	$25,930 - 63,060	9%	54%
2	Biological technicians	400	33,880	$18,400 - 52,590	16%	60%
3	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	280	46,830	$25,080 - 67,810	8%	51%
4	Elementary school teachers, except special education	270	35,790	$24,830 - 49,380	14%	95%
5	Accountants and auditors	270	51,120	$36,560 - 66,900	18%	79%
6	Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education	210	37,820	$25,990 - 53,270	6%	96%
7	Medical and health services managers	180	74,870	$42,560 - 118,730	16%	57%
8	Computer software engineers, systems software	170	62,460	$40,590 - 89,050	28%	85%
9	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	140	52,450	$13,370 - 90,020	12%	51%
10	Soil and plant scientists	140	56,830	$37,950 - 90,290	8%	82%
11	Public relations specialists	130	44,930	$32,750 - 61,540	18%	81%
12	Financial managers	120	81,350	$54,530 - 114,770	13%	60%
13	Microbiologists	120	70,210	$39,110 - 113,690	11%	95%
14	Computer programmers	110	50,700	$26,520 - 77,000	0%	73%
15	Managers, all other	110	69,850	$45,430 - 109,970	7%	55%
16	Management analysts	100	53,950	$41,180 - 74,010	22%	78%
17	Chief executives	100	117,780	$66,550 - 0	2%	65%
18	Medical and clinical laboratory technicians	80	36,690	$27,880 - 46,440	15%	51%
19	Industrial engineers	80	58,070	$41,490 - 81,370	20%	74%
20	Graphic designers	80	37,080	$13,910 - 56,230	10%	55%
21	Coaches and scouts	80	25,740	$16,850 - 31,670	15%	60%
22	Mechanical engineers	80	75,550	$44,420 - 97,990	4%	78%
23	Computer and information systems managers	70	82,100	$53,590 - 116,000	16%	73%
24	Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	70	45,850	$29,840 - 61,010	12%	51%
25	Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other	60	48,070	$31,330 - 76,020	17%	56%
26	Network and computer systems administrators	60	54,570	$41,420 - 79,390	27%	50%
27	Engineering managers	60	87,440	$67,910 - 105,050	7%	84%
28	Veterinarians	50	72,490	$50,650 - 100,150	35%	100%
29	Social and community service managers	40		$0 - 0	25%	72%
30	Architects, except landscape and naval	40	54,530	$34,420 - 75,640	18%	88%
31	Vocational education teachers, secondary school	40	45,190	$30,830 - 60,450	0%	96%
32	Community and social service specialists, all other	40	29,830	$17,380 - 47,050	25%	58%
33	Food scientists and technologists	40	58,600	$29,580 - 93,080	10%	82%
34	Lawyers	40	94,510	$57,730 - 143,470	11%	99%
35	Pharmacists	40	81,010	$47,800 - 103,400	22%	97%
36	Training and development specialists	30	35,150	$24,580 - 45,850	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	1,630	23,010	$12,300 - 34,060	12%	25%
2	Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	1,370	15,060	$11,610 - 20,220	18%	5%
3	Office clerks, general	1,040	28,500	$15,850 - 43,380	13%	19%
4	Cashiers	1,000	16,020	$11,980 - 20,500	-2%	10%
5	Waiters and waitresses	930	13,930	$11,440 - 15,710	11%	14%
6	Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	860	22,850	$15,820 - 30,820	15%	4%
7	Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	790	33,800	$22,980 - 44,710	1%	18%
8	Maintenance and repair workers, general	640	32,060	$14,050 - 47,970	10%	6%
9	Stock clerks and order fillers	610	22,690	$13,860 - 35,480	-7%	8%
10	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	540	31,920	$20,280 - 45,750	13%	16%
11	First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	360	33,630	$20,210 - 49,550	4%	25%
12	Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	350	23,230	$15,910 - 35,340	18%	6%
13	Teacher assistants	350	18,120	$12,160 - 24,470	10%	18%
14	Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	340	22,450	$19,010 - 27,620	18%	7%
15	Construction laborers	340	30,160	$23,220 - 38,270	11%	5%
16	Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	330	39,550	$28,140 - 50,260	15%	18%
17	Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	330	22,020	$15,000 - 36,980	2%	5%
18	Carpenters	330	33,580	$20,520 - 51,850	10%	6%
19	Receptionists and information clerks	320	21,180	$14,190 - 29,120	17%	13%
20	Cooks, restaurant	300	18,390	$14,920 - 22,970	12%	5%
21	Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	300	30,070	$22,320 - 41,710	10%	4%
22	First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	280	28,060	$17,700 - 39,740	11%	14%
23	Maids and housekeeping cleaners	270	17,200	$14,410 - 21,680	13%	5%
24	General and operations managers	270	87,490	$40,640 - [?]	2%	48%
25	Customer service representatives	250	27,340	$16,630 - 40,170	25%	22%
26	Telemarketers	250	17,400	$15,080 - 21,580	-9%	14%
27	Food preparation workers	240	16,650	$11,890 - 22,920	15%	7%
28	Electricians	240	34,620	$21,610 - 47,420	7%	7%
29	Cooks, institution and cafeteria	240	25,800	$19,070 - 31,820	11%	5%
30	Bartenders	230	15,490	$11,670 - 20,850	11%	17%
31	Printing machine operators	220	32,020	$24,140 - 39,090	-5%	6%
32	Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	190	26,530	$17,740 - 35,160	4%	6%
33	Tellers	180	24,280	$19,540 - 28,680	14%	16%
34	Team assemblers	180	23,960	$19,100 - 31,440	0%	5%
35	Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders	170	32,230	$19,990 - 44,180	-4%	5%
36	First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	170	53,380	$37,480 - 81,480	-4%	15%
37	Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	170	30,320	$23,240 - 39,820	5%	2%
38	Automotive service technicians and mechanics	160	37,530	$20,890 - 55,970	14%	4%
39	Dishwashers	160	14,730	$11,670 - 17,970	10%	3%
40	Packers and packagers, hand	160	18,560	$12,140 - 24,850	-11%	3%
41	Bus drivers, school	160	36,620	$24,230 - 56,580	9%	4%
42	Computer support specialists	160	37,070	$21,940 - 56,480	13%	43%
43	Truck drivers, light or delivery services	160	21,700	$15,840 - 28,750	8%	4%
44	Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	160	28,300	$12,690 - 48,500	12%	6%
45	Sales representatives, services, all other	150	40,400	$24,250 - 59,280	28%	48%
46	Loan officers	150	46,810	$29,290 - 71,990	12%	49%
47	First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	150	58,650	$40,580 - 107,360	9%	10%
48	First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	150	44,920	$25,710 - 61,560	6%	29%
49	Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	140	15,350	$12,170 - 18,030	10%	17%
50	Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	140	16,420	$12,090 - 21,750	10%	8%
51	Counter and rental clerks	130	17,970	$14,870 - 23,080	23%	16%
52	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	120	32,540	$26,660 - 37,980	14%	7%
53	Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	110	17,290	$13,530 - 21,640	17%	14%
54	Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	110	29,250	$19,210 - 46,150	4%	15%
55	Prepress technicians and workers	110	31,280	$22,150 - 45,280	-20%	16%
56	Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	100	30,100	$22,150 - 38,540	9%	3%
57	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	100	35,040	$21,360 - 49,880	11%	4%
58	First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	100	55,570	$37,070 - 76,890	7%	13%
59	Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	100	45,400	$30,780 - 61,300	0%	42%
60	Postal service mail carriers	100	44,320	$34,390 - 56,740	1%	11%
61	Machinists	100	33,750	$21,550 - 49,010	-2%	3%
62	Mechanical drafters	90	38,260	$25,550 - 61,210	5%	25%
63	Construction managers	90	70,840	$49,460 - 97,460	16%	29%
64	Food servers, nonrestaurant	90	18,580	$13,510 - 24,170	16%	9%
65	Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders	90	32,710	$25,610 - 42,950	-17%	0%
66	Industrial truck and tractor operators	90	29,780	$21,630 - 38,040	-1%	2%
67	Administrative services managers	90	79,440	$46,910 - 111,680	12%	40%
68	Helpers--production workers	80	24,450	$17,740 - 34,780	0%	4%
69	Cost estimators	80	40,440	$27,410 - 52,180	19%	32%
70	Automotive body and related repairers	80	32,200	$20,420 - 45,460	12%	3%
71	All other information and record clerks	80	30,290	$17,830 - 43,580	-12%	21%
72	Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	80	39,430	$29,750 - 47,400	8%	3%
73	Industrial production managers	70	88,170	$58,280 - 117,360	-5%	43%
74	Cement masons and concrete finishers	70	28,560	$22,670 - 35,160	11%	2%
75	Dental assistants	60	36,560	$23,540 - 53,580	29%	9%
76	Nonfarm animal caretakers	60	32,370	$24,560 - 39,630	18%	16%
77	Cleaners of vehicles and equipment	60	18,380	$14,490 - 23,130	14%	3%
78	Driver/sales workers	60	24,700	$11,830 - 40,260	-4%	4%
79	Food service managers	60	53,770	$38,740 - 72,090	5%	24%
80	Food batchmakers	50	24,740	$20,230 - 30,800	11%	5%
81	Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	50	19,660	$14,580 - 26,140	10%	5%
82	Word processors and typists	50	32,090	$23,440 - 39,300	-11%	19%
83	Motor vehicle operators, all other	50	29,710	$20,830 - 39,130	11%	0%
84	Industrial machinery mechanics	50	37,320	$19,490 - 50,150	9%	5%
85	Dental hygienists	50	61,570	$54,060 - 71,270	30%	33%
86	Residential advisors	50	21,730	$12,370 - 31,710	19%	28%
87	Order clerks	50	28,740	$17,140 - 39,700	-23%	16%
88	Parts salespersons	50	28,270	$15,460 - 39,610	-1%	6%
89	Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders	50	35,410	$24,940 - 44,830	-8%	3%
90	First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers	50	94,670	$42,880 - [?]	4%	38%
91	Pharmacy technicians	50	24,110	$16,690 - 31,400	32%	16%
92	Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers	40	22,550	$19,100 - 30,190	-26%	6%
93	Bindery workers	40	26,590	$18,800 - 34,900	-21%	7%
94	First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators	40	63,940	$31,660 - 111,830	10%	17%
95	Data entry keyers	40	27,100	$20,370 - 35,160	-4%	18%
96	Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping	40	33,910	$25,340 - 46,870	11%	29%
97	Engineering technicians, except drafters, all other	40	46,710	$28,970 - 63,610	2%	18%
98	First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers	40	34,990	$19,550 - 52,780	13%	11%
99	Production, planning, and expediting clerks	40	34,610	$23,300 - 53,010	4%	30%
100	Highway maintenance workers	40	35,200	$24,750 - 46,530	9%	5%

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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	56,830	140	192.5
Microbiologists	70,210	120	47.8
Biological technicians	33,880	400	34.5
Prepress technicians and workers	31,280	110	7.9
Printing machine operators	32,020	220	5.4
Teachers and instructors, all other	41,130	450	5
Medical and health services managers	74,870	180	3.6
Cooks, institution and cafeteria	25,800	240	3.5
Telemarketers	17,400	250	3.4
Public relations specialists	44,930	130	2.7
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	17,290	110	2.7
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	15,060	1,370	2.6
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	30,320	170	2.4
Computer software engineers, systems software	62,460	170	2.4
Maintenance and repair workers, general	32,060	640	2.3
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders	32,230	170	2.3
Bartenders	15,490	230	2.2
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	33,800	790	2.1
Bus drivers, school	36,620	160	2.1
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	28,300	160	2.1
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	30,100	100	1.9
Loan officers	46,810	150	1.9
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	22,850	860	1.9
Waiters and waitresses	13,930	930	1.8
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	15,350	140	1.8
Electricians	34,620	240	1.8
Cooks, restaurant	18,390	300	1.7
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	23,230	350	1.7
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	28,060	280	1.7
Retail salespersons	23,010	1,630	1.7
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	45,400	100	1.6
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	52,450	140	1.6
Stock clerks and order fillers	22,690	610	1.6
Office clerks, general	28,500	1,040	1.6
Carpenters	33,580	330	1.6
Construction laborers	30,160	340	1.5
Chief executives	117,780	100	1.5
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	33,630	360	1.5
Managers, all other	69,850	110	1.5
Dishwashers	14,730	160	1.5
Tellers	24,280	180	1.5
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	17,200	270	1.4
Teacher assistants	18,120	350	1.4
Cashiers	16,020	1,000	1.4
Postal service mail carriers	44,320	100	1.4
Computer support specialists	37,070	160	1.4
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	31,920	540	1.3
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	16,420	140	1.3
Food preparation workers	16,650	240	1.3
Machinists	33,750	100	1.3

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Ames, Iowa Metro Area (2006 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Salary Index *	Local Jobs
Bus drivers, school	36,620	1.47	160
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders	32,230	1.28	170
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	28,300	1.24	160
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	33,800	1.23	790
Office clerks, general	28,500	1.2	1,040
Cooks, institution and cafeteria	25,800	1.18	240
Teachers and instructors, all other	41,130	1.14	450
Microbiologists	70,210	1.14	120
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	39,550	1.1	330
Tellers	24,280	1.09	180
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	37,530	1.08	160
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	22,850	1.07	860
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	58,650	1.07	150
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	53,380	1.06	170
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	31,920	1.06	540
Construction laborers	30,160	1.04	340
Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	29,250	1.04	110
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	44,920	1.04	150
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	23,230	1.04	350
Stock clerks and order fillers	22,690	1.03	610
Printing machine operators	32,020	1.01	220
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	16,420	1.01	140
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	22,450	1	340
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	26,530	1	190
Maintenance and repair workers, general	32,060	0.99	640
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	28,060	0.99	280
Retail salespersons	23,010	0.98	1,630
Packers and packagers, hand	18,560	0.98	160
Maids and housekeeping cleaners	17,200	0.97	270
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	22,020	0.97	330
General and operations managers	87,490	0.97	270
Customer service representatives	27,340	0.96	250
Medical and health services managers	74,870	0.96	180
Biological technicians	33,880	0.96	400
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	15,060	0.96	1,370
Public relations specialists	44,930	0.95	130
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	15,350	0.95	140
Financial managers	81,350	0.95	120
Receptionists and information clerks	21,180	0.95	320
Dishwashers	14,730	0.94	160
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	17,290	0.94	110
Team assemblers	23,960	0.94	180
Computer support specialists	37,070	0.93	160
Accountants and auditors	51,120	0.93	270
Food preparation workers	16,650	0.93	240
Prepress technicians and workers	31,280	0.93	110
Carpenters	33,580	0.92	330
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	30,320	0.92	170
Cashiers	16,020	0.91	1,000
Cooks, restaurant	18,390	0.91	300

Highest Paying Jobs in Ames, Iowa Metro Area (2006 data)

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs
Chief executives	117,780	100
First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers	94,670	50
Lawyers	94,510	40
Industrial production managers	88,170	70
General and operations managers	87,490	270
Engineering managers	87,440	60
Computer and information systems managers	82,100	70
Financial managers	81,350	120
Pharmacists	81,010	40
Administrative services managers	79,440	90
Mechanical engineers	75,550	80
Medical and health services managers	74,870	180
Veterinarians	72,490	50
Construction managers	70,840	90
Microbiologists	70,210	120
Managers, all other	69,850	110
First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators	63,940	40
Chemists	63,700
Computer software engineers, systems software	62,460	170
Dental hygienists	61,570	50
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	58,650	150
Food scientists and technologists	58,600	40
Industrial engineers	58,070	80
Soil and plant scientists	56,830	140
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	55,570	100
Network and computer systems administrators	54,570	60
First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives	54,540	40
Architects, except landscape and naval	54,530	40
Management analysts	53,950	100
Food service managers	53,770	60
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	53,380	170
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	52,450	140
Accountants and auditors	51,120	270
Computer programmers	50,700	110
Agricultural inspectors	50,190
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers	48,190
Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other	48,070	60
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	46,830	280
Loan officers	46,810	150
Engineering technicians, except drafters, all other	46,710	40
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	45,850	70
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	45,400	100
Vocational education teachers, secondary school	45,190	40
Public relations specialists	44,930	130
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	44,920	150
Postal service mail carriers	44,320	100
Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	41,680
Teachers and instructors, all other	41,130	450
Cost estimators	40,440	80
Sales representatives, services, all other	40,400	150

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