Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents Salary
The median pay for a securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents in Ames, IA is $62,050/year ($29.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $95K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $69,853 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $62K 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 securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Ames
Pay for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents in Ames runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,153/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.4% 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 securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $66K | $72K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $72K | $81K |
| Cedar Rapids | $62K | $69K |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $47K | $54K |
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 securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $168K | +114% | 55,630 |
| Massachusetts | $100K | +28% | 14,510 |
| Illinois | $100K | +27% | 27,920 |
| Connecticut | $99K | +25% | 5,730 |
| Vermont | $88K | +12% | 240 |
| South Dakota | $87K | +10% | 730 |
| Delaware | $84K | +6% | 2,300 |
| Minnesota | $83K | +6% | 8,820 |
| Nebraska | $83K | +5% | 2,150 |
| New Jersey | $82K | +5% | 15,230 |
| California | $80K | +1% | 55,860 |
| New Hampshire | $79K | +0% | 1,530 |
| Missouri | $79K | -0% | 8,770 |
| Texas | $78K | -0% | 41,640 |
| Oregon | $77K | -2% | 2,900 |
| Alaska | $76K | -3% | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $76K | -3% | 2,310 |
| Kansas | $76K | -4% | 2,310 |
| Washington | $76K | -4% | 8,770 |
| Arizona | $75K | -5% | 14,600 |
| North Carolina | $74K | -6% | 21,890 |
| Wisconsin | $74K | -6% | 5,980 |
| Michigan | $73K | -7% | 7,160 |
| Ohio | $73K | -7% | 13,520 |
| District of Columbia | $72K | -8% | 1,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $72K | -9% | 15,510 |
| Indiana | $68K | -13% | 6,460 |
| Colorado | $67K | -15% | 12,360 |
| Utah | $65K | -18% | 4,520 |
| Idaho | $65K | -18% | 1,690 |
| Iowa | $64K | -18% | 2,300 |
| North Dakota | $64K | -19% | 740 |
| Virginia | $63K | -20% | 11,320 |
| Florida | $63K | -20% | 42,600 |
| Maryland | $62K | -22% | 8,420 |
| Nevada | $61K | -22% | 3,140 |
| New Mexico | $61K | -23% | 1,690 |
| Georgia | $60K | -24% | 14,950 |
| Maine | $60K | -24% | 690 |
| Kentucky | $59K | -25% | 5,340 |
| Tennessee | $58K | -26% | 11,370 |
| Hawaii | $58K | -27% | 420 |
| South Carolina | $55K | -30% | 7,230 |
| Arkansas | $55K | -31% | 2,330 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -36% | 930 |
| Alabama | $49K | -37% | 4,710 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -39% | 4,130 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -41% | 1,950 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
Related careers in Sales
Frequently asked questions
Can a securities, commodities, and financial services sales agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 28.4% 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 securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,743/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 securities, commodities, and financial services sales agent a high-paying job in Ames?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $62K 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 securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents?
Ames pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents make in Ames, IA?
The median is $62,050 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,720, and experienced securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents can clear $143,240. The mean (average) is $95,250, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,065/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 28.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents 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 securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents salary is worth about $69,853 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents 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.