Fundraisers Salary
Fundraisers in Ames, IA make a median of $80,430 a year, or about $38.67 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $90,544 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 22.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K 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 fundraisers
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What this looks like in Ames
Ames sits well above the national pay line for fundraisers, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $73K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,153/month, 22.8% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Ames offers a genuinely strong financial position for fundraiserss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for fundraisers in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $65K | $71K |
| Iowa City | $60K | $66K |
| Cedar Rapids | $61K | $69K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $60K | $67K |
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 fundraisers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Fundraisers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Fundraisers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $81K | +11% | 2,350 |
| New York | $81K | +11% | 11,600 |
| Maryland | $80K | +10% | 2,010 |
| California | $80K | +10% | 12,860 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +9% | 6,160 |
| Washington | $79K | +9% | 3,870 |
| Connecticut | $78K | +7% | 1,350 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +6% | 1,950 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +6% | 3,190 |
| North Dakota | $76K | +5% | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $75K | +4% | 1,000 |
| Colorado | $74K | +3% | 2,470 |
| Virginia | $73K | +0% | 4,010 |
| Vermont | $73K | -0% | 510 |
| Louisiana | $72K | -1% | 330 |
| Georgia | $72K | -1% | 2,690 |
| Wyoming | $71K | -2% | 90 |
| Delaware | $71K | -2% | 320 |
| Nevada | $69K | -6% | 310 |
| Kentucky | $68K | -6% | 1,030 |
| Nebraska | $68K | -6% | 770 |
| South Dakota | $67K | -8% | 80 |
| Maine | $67K | -8% | 930 |
| Illinois | $66K | -8% | 4,470 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | -9% | 810 |
| Indiana | $66K | -9% | 2,080 |
| Michigan | $66K | -9% | 3,170 |
| North Carolina | $66K | -9% | 3,700 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -9% | 2,130 |
| New Mexico | $65K | -10% | 330 |
| Kansas | $65K | -11% | 1,100 |
| Florida | $64K | -11% | N/A |
| Arizona | $64K | -12% | 1,580 |
| Oregon | $64K | -12% | 2,090 |
| Ohio | $64K | -12% | 3,460 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -12% | 950 |
| Iowa | $64K | -12% | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $64K | -12% | 1,670 |
| Hawaii | $64K | -12% | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | -12% | 6,180 |
| Alaska | $63K | -14% | 290 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -14% | 1,200 |
| Utah | $62K | -15% | 920 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -15% | 1,930 |
| Montana | $61K | -16% | 700 |
| Idaho | $61K | -16% | 380 |
| Texas | $60K | -17% | 4,020 |
| Alabama | $60K | -17% | 1,120 |
| Mississippi | $58K | -21% | 230 |
| West Virginia | $55K | -25% | 260 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -31% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track fundraisers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fundraiser afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 22.8% 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 fundraisers in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fundraisers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,779/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fundraiser a high-paying job in Ames?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $80K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Ames compare to the national average for fundraisers?
Ames pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fundraisers make in Ames, IA?
The median is $80,430 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,320, and experienced fundraisers can clear $135,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,067/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 22.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a fundraisers 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 fundraisers salary is worth about $90,544 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fundraisers 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.