Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Ames, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Ames, IA

Median annual salary $56,230 +18.2% vs national
Median hourly $27.04
10th percentile $41,050
90th percentile $66,920
Employed locally 90
National median $47,590

Compare Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary & buying power

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Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
in
Ames, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,050
    25th
    $41,050
    50th (median)
    $56,230
    75th
    $66,920
    90th
    $66,920

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary vs area income 79% Median Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary is 21% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $79,770
    Alaska nonmetropolitan area $79,040
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $69,950
    Springfield, OH $67,070
    Lexington Park, MD $66,570
    Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $63,490

    Nearby metros — Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $69,950
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $59,020
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $58,710
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $56,980
    California $51,710
    Iowa City, IA $50,430

    Related occupations in Ames, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $47,250
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $47,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $67,220
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $49,310
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $59,950
    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Ames, IA is $27.04, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $33.22 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries?

    The median Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Ames, IA is 18.2% above the national median of $47,590. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Ames?

    Entry-level Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $41,050 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $41,050.