Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists Salary
The median pay for a market research analysts and marketing specialists in Ames, IA is $61,100/year ($29.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $68,783 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 28.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $61K actually covers in Ames, month by month
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 market research analysts and marketing specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Ames
Pay for market research analysts and marketing specialists in Ames runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,153/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $77K | $84K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $72K | $80K |
| Cedar Rapids | $64K | $72K |
| Iowa City | $64K | $70K |
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 market research analysts and marketing specialists (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $102K | +29% | 39,710 |
| Delaware | $101K | +29% | 3,570 |
| New York | $99K | +25% | 80,500 |
| District of Columbia | $98K | +25% | 6,340 |
| Washington | $95K | +21% | 24,460 |
| California | $95K | +20% | 119,070 |
| Colorado | $93K | +18% | 27,880 |
| New Jersey | $88K | +12% | 22,990 |
| Minnesota | $88K | +11% | 21,280 |
| Rhode Island | $86K | +9% | 3,210 |
| Oregon | $79K | +0% | 11,310 |
| Illinois | $79K | +0% | 40,560 |
| North Carolina | $78K | -0% | 30,700 |
| Connecticut | $78K | -1% | 9,930 |
| Virginia | $77K | -2% | 25,610 |
| Maryland | $76K | -3% | 13,570 |
| Georgia | $76K | -4% | 27,810 |
| Florida | $75K | -4% | 60,770 |
| Vermont | $75K | -5% | 860 |
| Ohio | $73K | -8% | 27,370 |
| Texas | $73K | -8% | 63,350 |
| Maine | $72K | -9% | 2,390 |
| Arizona | $72K | -9% | 15,850 |
| Nevada | $72K | -9% | 5,780 |
| Kansas | $70K | -11% | 8,090 |
| Missouri | $70K | -11% | 14,890 |
| Tennessee | $70K | -11% | 13,040 |
| South Carolina | $69K | -12% | 11,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $69K | -13% | 31,040 |
| Montana | $68K | -14% | 1,460 |
| Michigan | $67K | -15% | 24,220 |
| Alaska | $67K | -15% | 570 |
| Iowa | $66K | -16% | 8,880 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -17% | 6,250 |
| Wisconsin | $65K | -18% | 15,600 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | -18% | 4,200 |
| Indiana | $64K | -19% | 14,400 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -19% | 1,530 |
| Utah | $63K | -20% | 14,510 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -21% | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -21% | 6,620 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -22% | 1,550 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -22% | 6,290 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -23% | 850 |
| Idaho | $61K | -23% | 3,780 |
| Nebraska | $60K | -24% | 3,780 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -24% | 5,360 |
| Alabama | $60K | -24% | 8,390 |
| Hawaii | $59K | -25% | 1,610 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -28% | 2,620 |
| West Virginia | $52K | -34% | 1,650 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track market research analysts and marketing specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a market research analysts and marketing specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 28.8% 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new market research analysts and marketing specialists typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,717/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is market research analysts and marketing specialist a high-paying job in Ames?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $61K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ames compare to the national average for market research analysts and marketing specialists?
Ames pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do market research analysts and marketing specialists make in Ames, IA?
The median is $61,100 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,370, and experienced market research analysts and marketing specialists can clear $102,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,006/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 28.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a market research analysts and marketing specialists 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists salary is worth about $68,783 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do market research analysts and marketing specialists 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.