SOC 19-4099 · Ames, IA metro

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other Salary in Ames, IA

The average salary for other life, physical, and social science technicians in Ames, Iowa is $66,800 a year ($32.12 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $65,020: half of the 50 people in this job in the Ames, IA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($66,280).

$66,800average per year

$32.12 / hourMedian $65,020Take-home ≈ $53,897

  • $48K10th
  • $52K25th
  • $65KMedian
  • $80K75th
  • $85K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

50people in this job
+1%vs U.S. average
#1 of 4Iowa metros
89cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other pay range in Ames

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,240 or more. The middle half of other life, physical, and social science technicians in Ames earn between $52,040 and $80,080.

  • $48K10th
  • $52K25th
  • $65KMedian
  • $80K75th
  • $85K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$66,800$5,567$32.12
Median$65,020$5,418$31.26
Entry level (25th percentile)$52,040$4,337$25.02
Experienced (75th percentile)$80,080$6,673$38.50

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other pay in Ames vs. Iowa and the U.S.

Other life, physical, and social science technicians in Ames earn 21% more than the Iowa average ($55,110) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,280). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $62,280.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Ames$66,800$65,020$48,180$85,24050
Iowa$55,110$50,480$38,350$77,930420
United States$66,280$62,280$39,000$102,69073,910

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other salary after taxes in Ames

On the average salary of $66,800, a single filer in Ames takes home about $53,897 a year, or $4,491 a month and $2,073 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Iowa paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Ames a good place for other life, physical, and social science technicians? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Ames area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $66,800 buys what about $75,200 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Ames ($50,220). A typical home costs $280,269, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $66,800 is worth in another city

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other salary in other Iowa cities

Ames ranks 1st of 4 Iowa metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.

All Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other salaries in Iowa

Highest-paying cities for other life, physical, and social science technicians

Oklahoma City, OK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($99,540).

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other salary by city

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Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other salary in Ames: questions

How much do other life, physical, and social science technicians make an hour in Ames?

$32.12 an hour on average, and $31.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level other life, physical, and social science technicians salary in Ames?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,040, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the other life, physical, and social science technicians take-home pay in Ames?

About $53,897 a year ($4,491 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,800. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Do other life, physical, and social science technicians earn more in Ames than elsewhere?

The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($66,280).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4099; area Ames, IA (11180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.76, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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