Architects, Except Landscape and Naval Salary
The median pay for a architects, except landscape and naval in Ames, IA is $95,750/year ($46.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $150K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $107,790 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 19.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $96K get you in Ames?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ames’s Regional Price Parity (88.83). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About architects, except landscape and navals
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What this looks like in Ames
Architects, except landscape and naval pay in Ames tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $99K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,153/month, 19.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.83 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for architects, except landscape and navals in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $97K | $106K |
| Cedar Rapids | $94K | $106K |
| Iowa City | $98K | $107K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $99K | $111K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level architects, except landscape and navals (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $150K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $121K | +21% | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $117K | +18% | 4,590 |
| Maryland | $115K | +15% | 1,800 |
| Alaska | $109K | +10% | 210 |
| California | $109K | +9% | 13,270 |
| Rhode Island | $105K | +6% | 550 |
| Connecticut | $104K | +4% | 1,200 |
| South Dakota | $103K | +3% | 180 |
| Colorado | $102K | +3% | 3,290 |
| Hawaii | $102K | +3% | 600 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | +3% | 1,700 |
| Arizona | $102K | +3% | 1,550 |
| Nevada | $102K | +2% | 530 |
| South Carolina | $102K | +2% | 1,030 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | +2% | 250 |
| Georgia | $100K | +1% | 2,440 |
| Oklahoma | $100K | +1% | 910 |
| Washington | $100K | +1% | 3,720 |
| Minnesota | $100K | +1% | 2,340 |
| New Jersey | $100K | +1% | 2,390 |
| New York | $99K | +0% | 10,360 |
| Oregon | $99K | -0% | 2,050 |
| Wisconsin | $99K | -1% | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $98K | -1% | 2,150 |
| Virginia | $98K | -2% | 2,130 |
| Kentucky | $98K | -2% | 630 |
| Montana | $97K | -2% | 550 |
| North Dakota | $97K | -2% | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $97K | -2% | 3,760 |
| Delaware | $97K | -2% | 120 |
| Iowa | $97K | -2% | 650 |
| West Virginia | $96K | -3% | 80 |
| Florida | $96K | -3% | 5,580 |
| Indiana | $96K | -3% | 1,430 |
| Alabama | $96K | -3% | 990 |
| North Carolina | $96K | -4% | 2,980 |
| Utah | $96K | -4% | 1,520 |
| Ohio | $95K | -4% | 3,480 |
| Texas | $94K | -5% | 7,820 |
| Tennessee | $94K | -5% | 2,570 |
| Idaho | $94K | -6% | 850 |
| Nebraska | $92K | -8% | 620 |
| Michigan | $88K | -11% | 2,630 |
| Kansas | $85K | -14% | 840 |
| Vermont | $82K | -17% | 320 |
| Illinois | $82K | -18% | 5,130 |
| Mississippi | $81K | -19% | 330 |
| Louisiana | $80K | -20% | 1,200 |
| Maine | $79K | -21% | 500 |
| Arkansas | $78K | -21% | 720 |
| New Mexico | $78K | -22% | 600 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track architects, except landscape and naval salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architects, except landscape and naval afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 19.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,153/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architects, except landscape and navals in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architects, except landscape and navals typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,512/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is architects, except landscape and naval a high-paying job in Ames?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $99K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Ames compare to the national average for architects, except landscape and navals?
Ames pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architects, except landscape and navals make in Ames, IA?
The median is $95,750 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,530, and experienced architects, except landscape and navals can clear $150,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,893/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 19.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a architects, except landscape and naval salary go in Ames?
Ames has a Regional Price Parity of 88.83 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median architects, except landscape and naval salary is worth about $107,790 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do architects, except landscape and navals get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.