Top Paying Jobs in Ames, IA (2026)
Ames, IA has 50 jobs across diverse industries. The highest-paying occupations include Family Medicine Physicians ($230,900), Chief Executives ($168,570), Statisticians ($150,000). The cost of living index is 88.83 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,153/month.
$129K
Avg. median salary
88.83
Cost of living index
$1,153
Median 2BR rent
N/A
Population
Highest paying careers in Ames
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Family Medicine Physicians | Healthcare | $231K | $111.01/hr |
| 2 | Chief Executives | Management | $169K | $81.04/hr |
| 3 | Statisticians | Technology | $150K | $72.12/hr |
| 4 | Managers, All Other | Management | $141K | $67.75/hr |
| 5 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | Management | $136K | $65.57/hr |
| 6 | Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | Science | $134K | $64.5/hr |
| 7 | Pharmacists | Healthcare | $132K | $63.66/hr |
| 8 | Human Resources Managers | Management | $131K | $63.1/hr |
| 9 | Sales Managers | Management | $128K | $61.59/hr |
| 10 | Natural Sciences Managers | Management | $127K | $61.15/hr |
| 11 | Software Developers | Technology | $127K | $61.08/hr |
| 12 | Marketing Managers | Management | $127K | $61.04/hr |
| 13 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | Management | $127K | $60.97/hr |
| 14 | Nurse Practitioners | Healthcare | $127K | $60.85/hr |
| 15 | Lawyers | Legal | $125K | $60.02/hr |
| 16 | Physician Assistants | Healthcare | $122K | $58.59/hr |
| 17 | Financial Managers | Management | $120K | $57.69/hr |
| 18 | Purchasing Managers | Management | $120K | $57.51/hr |
| 19 | Veterinarians | Healthcare | $112K | $53.8/hr |
| 20 | Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | Management | $109K | $/hr |
| 21 | Microbiologists | Science | $108K | $51.94/hr |
| 22 | Industrial Production Managers | Management | $107K | $51.35/hr |
| 23 | Public Relations Managers | Management | $106K | $51.19/hr |
| 24 | Electrical Engineers | Engineering | $106K | $51.18/hr |
| 25 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | Sales | $105K | $50.26/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Ames
Cost of living vs. national average-11.2% less expensive
Studio apartment (FMR)$/mo
1-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,153/mo
3-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
Compare Ames cost of living to other cities
See your real purchasing power
Calculate take-home pay in Ames
After federal and state taxes