Food Processing Workers, All Other Salary in Ames, IA

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

Median annual salary $40,720 +6% vs national
Median hourly $19.58
10th percentile $40,720
90th percentile $46,780
Employed locally 70
National median $38,420

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Food Processing Workers, All Other
in
Ames, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,720
    25th
    $40,720
    50th (median)
    $40,720
    75th
    $46,780
    90th
    $46,780

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Processing Workers, All Other salary vs area income 57% Median Food Processing Workers, All Other salary is 43% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Processing Workers, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    North Missouri nonmetropolitan area $57,190
    Rochester, MN $51,960
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $51,910
    Dubuque, IA $51,750
    Longview-Kelso, WA $50,500
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $50,130

    Nearby metros — Food Processing Workers, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Dubuque, IA $51,750
    Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $45,210
    Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $44,980
    Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $43,620
    Cedar Rapids, IA $41,770
    Omaha, NE-IA $41,660

    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 Food Processing Workers, All Other make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Food Processing Workers, All Other in Ames, IA is $19.58, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.35 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Food Processing Workers, All Other salaries?

    The median Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in Ames, IA is 6% above the national median of $38,420. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Processing Workers, All Other in Ames?

    Entry-level Food Processing Workers, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $40,720 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,720.