Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary in Ames, IA
Forest and Conservation Technicians in Ames, IA make a median of $47,960 a year, or about $23.06 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $53,991 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,153/month — about 35.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K 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 forest and conservation technicians
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level forest and conservation technicians (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Forest and Conservation Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $67K | +24% | 110 |
| Minnesota | $64K | +17% | 670 |
| California | $61K | +12% | 6,440 |
| Louisiana | $59K | +8% | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $58K | +7% | 380 |
| New York | $56K | +4% | 170 |
| Oregon | $56K | +3% | 2,750 |
| Alaska | $55K | +1% | 470 |
| Montana | $54K | +0% | 1,940 |
| Arizona | $54K | +0% | 1,350 |
| Arkansas | $54K | +0% | 220 |
| Alabama | $54K | +0% | 180 |
| Idaho | $54K | +0% | 2,110 |
| Washington | $54K | +0% | 1,240 |
| Massachusetts | $54K | -1% | N/A |
| Michigan | $54K | -1% | 400 |
| Nevada | $53K | -2% | 760 |
| Wyoming | $53K | -2% | 590 |
| Nebraska | $53K | -2% | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $53K | -3% | 630 |
| Florida | $52K | -4% | 310 |
| South Dakota | $52K | -4% | 380 |
| Texas | $52K | -5% | 430 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -5% | 270 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -5% | 110 |
| Georgia | $49K | -10% | 270 |
| Vermont | $49K | -11% | 70 |
| Iowa | $48K | -11% | 440 |
| South Carolina | $48K | -11% | 200 |
| Hawaii | $48K | -12% | 120 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -13% | 430 |
| Missouri | $47K | -14% | 370 |
| North Carolina | $46K | -16% | 740 |
| Ohio | $46K | -16% | 220 |
| Illinois | $46K | -16% | 960 |
| North Dakota | $45K | -17% | N/A |
| Utah | $45K | -18% | 1,270 |
| New Hampshire | $45K | -18% | 70 |
| Virginia | $43K | -20% | 350 |
| Kentucky | $41K | -25% | 230 |
| Maine | $40K | -27% | 30 |
| Kansas | $37K | -32% | 170 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track forest and conservation technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do forest and conservation technicians make in Ames, IA?
The median is $47,960 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,690, and experienced forest and conservation technicians can clear $66,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,189/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 36.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a forest and conservation technicians 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 forest and conservation technicians salary is worth about $53,991 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do forest and conservation technicians 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.