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.

Jobs in Ames

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations44900$51,220$24.63100
2Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations4720$23,900$11.498.7
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations4610$39,640$19.0613.75
4Educational Instruction and Library Occupations4290$72,190$34.716
5Sales and Related Occupations3940$40,090$19.279.5
6Production Occupations3830$41,580$19.995.6
7Management Occupations2810$102,240$49.156.35
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations2490$64,340$30.935.35
9Transportation and Material Moving Occupations2440$36,970$17.786.7
10Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations2230$72,900$35.055.85
11Construction and Extraction Occupations1730$49,290$23.74.6
12Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations1720$52,120$25.063.75
13Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations1690$29,370$14.123.6
14Computer and Mathematical Occupations1650$76,280$36.673
15Fast Food and Counter Workers1570$22,740$10.932.45
16Healthcare Support Occupations1570$31,940$15.362.85
17Retail Salespersons1420$34,710$16.692.7
18Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1220$65,210$31.350.8
19Personal Care and Service Occupations1180$28,610$13.764.65
20Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other1160$63,660$30.610.7
21Cashiers1040$27,350$13.152.2
22Architecture and Engineering Occupations880$74,150$35.651.7
23Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners870$29,220$14.051.5
24Registered Nurses810$61,230$29.441.95
25Office Clerks, General740$36,530$17.561.9
26General and Operations Managers710$98,340$47.281.5
27Waiters and Waitresses620$24,300$11.681.65
28Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand610$32,380$15.571.8
29Nursing Assistants610$29,920$14.390.95
30Protective Service Occupations570$54,020$25.972.2
31Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive560$40,190$19.321.4
32Maintenance and Repair Workers, General540$44,730$21.50.9
33Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations530$50,810$24.431.8
34Community and Social Service Occupations510$45,910$22.071.75
35First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers450$31,450$15.120.6
36Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks440$41,330$19.871.05
37Computer Systems Analysts440$83,320$40.060.4
38Customer Service Representatives430$37,350$17.961.75
39Stockers and Order Fillers430$29,320$14.11.25
40Home Health and Personal Care Aides380$26,760$12.870
41First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers370$40,940$19.680.95
42First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers360$60,450$29.060.4
43Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers350$30,460$14.640.75
44Bartenders340$19,440$9.350.4
45Accountants and Auditors330$67,820$32.610.9
46Construction Laborers330$38,410$18.470.9
47Cooks, Restaurant330$24,100$11.590.9
48Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants330$49,270$23.690.35
49Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners330$23,780$11.430.9
50Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education330$25,180$12.110.3
51Receptionists and Information Clerks330$29,340$14.10.7
52Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers330$79,300$38.120.65
53Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria320$29,080$13.980.3
54Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers320$46,970$22.581.2
55Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products310$69,050$33.20.85
56Light Truck Drivers290$26,660$12.820.6
57Childcare Workers280$18,820$9.050.7
58Food Preparation Workers280$23,480$11.290.5
59Civil Engineers260$83,020$39.910.2
60First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers260$57,330$27.560.95
61Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics250$58,810$28.270.5
62First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers240$68,110$32.750.4
63Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop230$20,020$9.620.3
64Agricultural and Food Science Technicians220$41,500$19.950
65Dishwashers200$18,350$8.820.3
66Medical and Health Services Managers200$90,810$43.660.3
67Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators200$48,240$23.190.25
68Computer Network Support Specialists190$53,160$25.560.1
69Food Servers, Nonrestaurant190$22,510$10.820.2
70Biological Technicians180$48,700$23.410.1
71Computer User Support Specialists180$58,480$28.120.4
72Computer and Information Systems Managers180$88,480$42.540.3
73Financial Managers180$111,050$53.390.4
74Public Relations Specialists180$58,320$28.040.2
75Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors170$50,060$24.070.2
76Electricians170$55,150$26.510.45
77Printing Press Operators170$40,650$19.550.1
78Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians160$60,860$29.260
79Counter and Rental Clerks160$26,370$12.680.3
80Soil and Plant Scientists160$68,210$32.790
81Driver/Sales Workers150$26,250$12.620.3
82Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks150$23,780$11.430.15
83Legal Occupations150$62,870$30.220.8
84Medical Assistants150$36,920$17.750.45
85Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel150$57,970$27.870.7
86Animal Caretakers140$36,570$17.580.2
87Human Resources Specialists140$55,720$26.790.4
88Industrial Machinery Mechanics140$61,580$29.610.2
89Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists140$52,540$25.260.45
90Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other140$43,740$21.030
91Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters140$51,450$24.730.3
92Buyers and Purchasing Agents130$60,530$29.10.25
93Dental Assistants130$46,220$22.220.2
94Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers130$54,300$26.110.35
95Recreation Workers130$25,830$12.420.3
96Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks130$33,450$16.080.4
97Social and Human Service Assistants130$33,600$16.160.3
98Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations120$32,920$15.830.65
99First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service and Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services120$34,300$16.490.2
100Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers120$51,460$24.740.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Ames Colleges
Ames colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Ames Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,22044,900
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$23,9004,720
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,6404,610
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$72,1904,290
Sales and Related Occupations$40,0903,940
Production Occupations$41,5803,830
Management Occupations$102,2402,810
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$64,3402,490
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,9702,440
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$72,9002,230
Construction and Extraction Occupations$49,2901,730
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,1201,720
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,3701,690
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$76,2801,650
Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,7401,570
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,9401,570
Retail Salespersons$34,7101,420
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$65,2101,220
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,6101,180
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$63,6601,160
Cashiers$27,3501,040
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$74,150880
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,220870
Registered Nurses$61,230810
Office Clerks, General$36,530740
General and Operations Managers$98,340710
Waiters and Waitresses$24,300620
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,380610
Nursing Assistants$29,920610
Protective Service Occupations$54,020570
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$40,190560
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,730540
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$50,810530
Community and Social Service Occupations$45,910510
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$31,450450
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,330440
Computer Systems Analysts$83,320440
Customer Service Representatives$37,350430
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,320430
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,760380
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$40,940370
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$60,450360
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$30,460350
Bartenders$19,440340
Accountants and Auditors$67,820330
Construction Laborers$38,410330
Cooks, Restaurant$24,100330
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$49,270330
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$23,780330
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$25,180330

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

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,22044,900
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$39,6404,610
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$72,1904,290
Sales and Related Occupations$40,0903,940
Production Occupations$41,5803,830
Management Occupations$102,2402,810
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$64,3402,490
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,9702,440
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$72,9002,230
Construction and Extraction Occupations$49,2901,730
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$52,1201,720
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,3701,690
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$76,2801,650
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,9401,570
Retail Salespersons$34,7101,420
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$65,2101,220
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,6101,180
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$63,6601,160
Cashiers$27,3501,040
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$74,150880
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,220870
Registered Nurses$61,230810
Office Clerks, General$36,530740
General and Operations Managers$98,340710
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,380610
Nursing Assistants$29,920610
Protective Service Occupations$54,020570
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$40,190560
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,730540
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$50,810530
Community and Social Service Occupations$45,910510
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$31,450450
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,330440
Computer Systems Analysts$83,320440
Customer Service Representatives$37,350430
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,320430
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,760380
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$40,940370
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$60,450360
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$30,460350
Accountants and Auditors$67,820330
Construction Laborers$38,410330
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$49,270330
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$25,180330
Receptionists and Information Clerks$29,340330
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$79,300330
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$29,080320
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$46,970320
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$69,050310
Light Truck Drivers$26,660290

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