Helpers--Production Workers Salary in Ames, IA

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

Median annual salary $47,590 +24.5% vs national
Median hourly $22.88
10th percentile $29,440
90th percentile $52,200
Employed locally 50
National median $38,220

Compare Helpers--Production Workers salary & buying power

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Helpers--Production Workers
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Ames, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,440
    25th
    $29,440
    50th (median)
    $47,590
    75th
    $50,820
    90th
    $52,200

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Helpers--Production Workers salary vs area income 67% Median Helpers--Production Workers salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Helpers--Production Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $56,640
    Pittsfield, MA $53,250
    Lewiston, ID-WA $53,010
    Reading, PA $52,780
    Napa, CA $52,460
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $50,790

    Nearby metros — Helpers--Production Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $56,640
    Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $49,000
    Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $48,830
    Dubuque, IA $48,290
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $47,480
    North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $46,910

    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 Helpers--Production Workers make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Helpers--Production Workers in Ames, IA is $22.88, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $25.21 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Helpers--Production Workers salaries?

    The median Helpers--Production Workers salary in Ames, IA is 24.5% above the national median of $38,220. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Helpers--Production Workers in Ames?

    Entry-level Helpers--Production Workers (10th percentile) earn around $29,440 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,440.