Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Salary
The median pay for a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products in Ames, IA is $105,330/year ($50.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $194K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $118,575 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 17.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $105K 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.
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What this looks like in Ames
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products pay in Ames tracks closely to the national median, $105K locally vs. $105K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,153/month, 18% 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 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $127K | $138K |
| Cedar Rapids | $75K | $85K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $81K | $91K |
| Iowa City | $103K | $112K |
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 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $194K or more, a $132K spread from bottom to top.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $135K | +29% | 4,150 |
| New Jersey | $131K | +25% | 5,600 |
| Kansas | $131K | +25% | 2,440 |
| New York | $129K | +23% | 10,500 |
| Georgia | $129K | +23% | 5,700 |
| Virginia | $128K | +22% | 6,060 |
| Washington | $127K | +21% | 9,960 |
| Hawaii | $126K | +20% | 540 |
| Michigan | $126K | +20% | 9,140 |
| North Carolina | $125K | +19% | 11,990 |
| California | $124K | +18% | 27,590 |
| Louisiana | $124K | +18% | 2,340 |
| Massachusetts | $119K | +13% | 11,650 |
| Rhode Island | $118K | +12% | 530 |
| Oregon | $114K | +8% | 3,040 |
| South Carolina | $111K | +6% | 3,760 |
| Ohio | $108K | +3% | 9,870 |
| Delaware | $108K | +3% | 960 |
| Florida | $108K | +3% | 19,840 |
| Illinois | $108K | +3% | 7,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $104K | -1% | 7,190 |
| Iowa | $103K | -1% | 2,580 |
| Minnesota | $103K | -2% | 4,960 |
| Indiana | $103K | -2% | 4,370 |
| North Dakota | $103K | -2% | 510 |
| Maine | $102K | -3% | N/A |
| Idaho | $101K | -3% | 1,880 |
| Wyoming | $101K | -4% | 280 |
| Arizona | $101K | -4% | 8,860 |
| Texas | $99K | -6% | 44,400 |
| Nevada | $99K | -6% | 1,880 |
| Connecticut | $98K | -7% | 2,980 |
| New Hampshire | $98K | -7% | 2,660 |
| Kentucky | $98K | -7% | 4,170 |
| West Virginia | $97K | -7% | 760 |
| Vermont | $96K | -9% | 410 |
| Maryland | $95K | -9% | 6,330 |
| Missouri | $95K | -10% | 5,060 |
| Tennessee | $94K | -10% | 8,290 |
| District of Columbia | $93K | -11% | 600 |
| New Mexico | $87K | -17% | 980 |
| Alabama | $87K | -17% | 2,780 |
| Nebraska | $84K | -20% | 1,700 |
| Montana | $84K | -20% | 690 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | -25% | 3,390 |
| Alaska | $77K | -27% | 440 |
| Mississippi | $75K | -29% | 810 |
| Oklahoma | $72K | -31% | 3,970 |
| Arkansas | $72K | -32% | 1,520 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific product afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 18% 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 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,754/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific product a high-paying job in Ames?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $105K locally vs. $105K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Ames compare to the national average for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products?
Ames pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products make in Ames, IA?
The median is $105,330 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,570, and experienced sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products can clear $194,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,409/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 18% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products 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 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products salary is worth about $118,575 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products 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.