SOC 29-1122 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Occupational Therapists — Ames
Ames, IA · 7 metro areas compared
At $73,810, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Occupational Therapists, 26.4% beneath the national figure of $100,330.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow much faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +13.8%
- Openings per year
- 10,200
- Typical entry-level education
- Master's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Ames, IA.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
At $73,810, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Occupational Therapists, 26.4% beneath the national figure of $100,330. Pay ranges from under $62,660 at the tenth percentile to more than $99,840 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $63,870 to $93,470.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Waterloo records the highest median at $98,240. Of the 246 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 73rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,660 | −37.5% |
| 25th | $63,870 | −36.3% |
| Median (50th) | $73,810 | −26.4% |
| 75th | $93,470 | −6.8% |
| 90th | $99,840 | −0.5% |
| Mean | $77,820 | −22.4% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo | $98,240 | 80 | |
| 2 | Dubuque | $94,210 | 30 | |
| 3 | Sioux City | $92,600 | 50 | |
| 4 | Iowa City | $91,560 | 100 | |
| 5 | Davenport | $87,390 | 170 | |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $79,690 | 110 | |
| 7 | Des Moines | $78,770 | 340 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Ames run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $73,810 goes as far as $83,119 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$73,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$83,119US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $73,810 a year, 26.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $62,660 to $99,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Waterloo, at $98,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Occupational Therapists in Ames, IA?
The median annual wage is $73,810, or $35.49 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 $100,330, so pay in Ames, IA is 26.4% 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 $99,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $62,660 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 Waterloo, at $98,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 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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