Production Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a production workers, all other in Ames, IA is $70,690/year ($33.99/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $79,579 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 24.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $71K 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 production workers, all others
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What this looks like in Ames
Ames sits well above the national pay line for production workers, all other, local pay runs about 76% higher than the U.S. median of $40K. Rent runs $1,153/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.4% 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 production workers, all others in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $31K | $35K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $41K | $44K |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $48K | $55K |
| Cedar Rapids | $39K | $44K |
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 production workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Production Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Production Workers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109K | +173% | 70 |
| Indiana | $48K | +20% | 2,530 |
| Maryland | $48K | +19% | 2,490 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | +19% | 1,600 |
| Colorado | $47K | +18% | 1,120 |
| Oregon | $47K | +18% | 2,530 |
| Washington | $47K | +17% | 1,550 |
| Minnesota | $47K | +17% | 3,550 |
| Vermont | $47K | +16% | 470 |
| Maine | $46K | +16% | 890 |
| Massachusetts | $46K | +14% | 2,860 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +13% | 180 |
| Louisiana | $45K | +13% | 7,980 |
| Connecticut | $45K | +13% | 2,030 |
| North Dakota | $45K | +12% | 450 |
| South Dakota | $45K | +12% | 140 |
| Iowa | $44K | +11% | 3,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $44K | +10% | 8,490 |
| Oklahoma | $44K | +10% | 1,250 |
| Alaska | $44K | +9% | 100 |
| Nebraska | $43K | +7% | 510 |
| Wisconsin | $43K | +7% | 5,950 |
| New York | $42K | +5% | 3,370 |
| Montana | $42K | +5% | 290 |
| Illinois | $42K | +4% | 9,240 |
| California | $42K | +4% | 28,090 |
| Utah | $41K | +3% | 4,470 |
| Arizona | $41K | +3% | 1,750 |
| Nevada | $41K | +1% | 3,100 |
| Tennessee | $40K | +0% | 20,150 |
| New Jersey | $40K | -0% | 5,310 |
| Georgia | $40K | -1% | 22,440 |
| Delaware | $40K | -1% | 70 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -1% | 1,890 |
| West Virginia | $40K | -2% | 2,260 |
| Texas | $39K | -3% | 18,340 |
| North Carolina | $39K | -3% | 18,350 |
| Ohio | $39K | -3% | 9,090 |
| Kentucky | $39K | -4% | 2,780 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -4% | 2,710 |
| Missouri | $38K | -4% | 8,300 |
| Virginia | $38K | -4% | 4,970 |
| Michigan | $38K | -5% | 14,690 |
| Florida | $38K | -6% | 11,440 |
| Wyoming | $38K | -7% | 160 |
| Idaho | $37K | -7% | 810 |
| Alabama | $37K | -7% | 630 |
| Kansas | $37K | -8% | 610 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -9% | 1,920 |
| Rhode Island | $36K | -10% | 420 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -10% | 3,800 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track production workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a production workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 25.4% 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 production workers, all others in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new production workers, all others typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,348/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is production workers, all other a high-paying job in Ames?
Local pay is 76% above the national median — $71K here vs. $40K nationally.
How does Ames compare to the national average for production workers, all others?
Ames pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s +76%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do production workers, all others make in Ames, IA?
The median is $70,690 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,140, and experienced production workers, all others can clear $82,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,543/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 25.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a production workers, all other 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 production workers, all other salary is worth about $79,579 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do production workers, all others 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.