| AVERAGE SALARY BY OCCUPATION | Ames, Iowa | United States |
| Management | $41,087 | $65,643 |
| Business, Financial | $42,734 | $55,431 |
| Computer, Math | $37,328 | $73,554 |
| Architecture, Engineering | $20,875 | $74,001 |
| Sciences | $22,963 | $55,336 |
| Social Service | $30,367 | $38,592 |
| Legal | $46,346 | $74,395 |
| Education | $25,449 | $39,450 |
| Arts, Entertainment | $12,462 | $36,374 |
| Health Practitioners | $55,847 | $64,417 |
| Health Technicians | $30,301 | $35,954 |
| Healthcare Support | $19,306 | $22,334 |
| Fire Fighters | $6,250 | $29,766 |
| Law Enforcement | $52,727 | $55,397 |
| Food Prep, Serving | $7,002 | $13,351 |
| Cleaning, Maintenance | $10,433 | $18,423 |
| Personal Care | $6,945 | $15,351 |
| Sales, Related | $12,075 | $26,485 |
| Office Admin, Support | $16,234 | $29,268 |
| Farming, Fishing, Forestry | $5,455 | $19,254 |
| Construction, Extraction | $25,822 | $32,468 |
| Maintence, Repair | $38,143 | $40,948 |
| Production | $26,067 | $31,479 |
| Transportation | $20,625 | $32,663 |
| Material Moving | $16,429 | $22,126 |
| AVERAGE SALARY BY INDUSTRY | Ames, Iowa | United States |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $15,409 | $24,135 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $0 | $62,204 |
| Construction | $24,916 | $35,300 |
| Manufacturing | $31,950 | $42,158 |
| Wholesale Trade | $41,311 | $41,714 |
| Retail Trade | $10,267 | $21,666 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $34,000 | $40,449 |
| Utilities | $67,279 | $62,996 |
| Information | $21,346 | $48,512 |
| Finance and Insurance | $37,219 | $50,584 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $20,658 | $36,265 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $27,304 | $59,897 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $0 | $61,392 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Services | $15,573 | $23,873 |
| Educational Services | $20,532 | $37,346 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $29,154 | $33,234 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $5,795 | $21,042 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $7,749 | $14,790 |
| Other Services | $18,510 | $22,627 |
| Public Administration | $42,578 | $51,719 |