Recreation Workers pay range in Ames
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,910 or more. The middle half of recreation workers in Ames earn between $27,840 and $36,070.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $31KMedian
- $36K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,440 | $2,703 | $15.60 |
| Median | $31,110 | $2,592 | $14.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,840 | $2,320 | $13.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,070 | $3,006 | $17.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreation Workers pay in Ames vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Recreation workers in Ames earn 7% less than the Iowa average ($34,740) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($38,520). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $36,560.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $32,440 | $31,110 | $24,010 | $43,910 | 240 |
| Iowa | $34,740 | $33,700 | $24,420 | $46,740 | 2,870 |
| United States | $38,520 | $36,560 | $27,600 | $50,410 | 331,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Recreation Workers salary after taxes in Ames
On the average salary of $32,440, a single filer in Ames takes home about $27,625 a year, or $2,302 a month and $1,062 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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.
Is Ames a good place for recreation workers? 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 $32,440 buys what about $36,519 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Ames ($50,220). A typical home costs $280,269, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreation Workers salary in other Iowa cities
Ames ranks 7th of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Des Moines pays the most ($37,490).
- Des Moines$37,490
- Dubuque$37,250
- Sioux City$35,190
- Davenport$34,140
- Waterloo$33,370
- Iowa City$33,160
- Ames$32,440
- Cedar Rapids$32,420
Highest-paying cities for recreation workers
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($61,070).
- Fairbanks, AK$61,070
- San Jose, CA$54,750
- San Francisco, CA$48,810
- Seattle, WA$47,840
- Bozeman, MT$47,520
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Recreation Workers salary in Ames: questions
How much do recreation workers make an hour in Ames?
$15.60 an hour on average, and $14.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreation workers salary in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreation workers take-home pay in Ames?
About $27,625 a year ($2,302 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,440. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do recreation workers earn more in Ames than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,520).
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 39-9032; area Ames, IA (11180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 2.04, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.