Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Ames, IA

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

Median annual salary $31,340 -9.1% vs national
Median hourly $15.07
10th percentile $28,080
90th percentile $38,590
Employed locally 160
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
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Ames, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,080
    25th
    $29,170
    50th (median)
    $31,340
    75th
    $33,380
    90th
    $38,590

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 44% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $57,540
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,600
    Ithaca, NY $40,230

    Nearby metros — Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $38,850
    California $37,690
    District of Columbia $37,570
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $37,360
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $36,700
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $36,580

    Related occupations in Ames, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,890
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,660
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,310
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,290
    Bartenders $22,610
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,330

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Ames, IA is $15.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.19 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries?

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Ames, IA is 9.1% below the national median of $34,460. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Ames?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $28,080 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,170.