SOC 35-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — Ames
Ames, IA · 7 metro areas compared
In Ames, IA the median wage is $39,710.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Ames, IA the median wage is $39,710. That is 9.9% lower than the national median of $44,080. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $35,740 and $49,520. The lowest tenth earn under $29,080, while the highest tenth earn more than $61,700.
Employment stands at 490, or 8.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Des Moines leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $42,650. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 198th of 246 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,080 | −34.0% |
| 25th | $35,740 | −18.9% |
| Median (50th) | $39,710 | −9.9% |
| 75th | $49,520 | +12.3% |
| 90th | $61,700 | +40.0% |
| Mean | $43,400 | −1.5% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | $42,650 | 2,690 | |
| 2 | Dubuque | $39,510 | 460 | |
| 3 | Iowa City | $38,970 | 850 | |
| 4 | Sioux City | $38,960 | 570 | |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids | $38,610 | 1,050 | |
| 6 | Davenport | $38,480 | 1,410 | |
| 7 | Waterloo | $38,180 | 620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Ames run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $39,710 goes as far as $45,228 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,710as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,228US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,710 a year, 9.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,080 to $61,700 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 490 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Des Moines, at $42,650.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers in Ames, IA?
The median annual wage is $39,710, or $19.09 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $44,080, so pay in Ames, IA is 9.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Ames, IA earns more than $61,700 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,080 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Des Moines, at $42,650 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 490 jobs in this occupation in Ames, IA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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