Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Ames, IA

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

Median annual salary $28,660 -15.1% vs national
Median hourly $13.78
10th percentile $15,530
90th percentile $49,380
Employed locally 980
National median $33,760

Compare Waiters and Waitresses salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Ames, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Waiters and Waitresses
in
Ames, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $15,530
    25th
    $18,190
    50th (median)
    $28,660
    75th
    $48,190
    90th
    $49,380

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 40% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 60% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Waiters and Waitresses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,920
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $66,350
    Vermont $60,910
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $60,840
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $53,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,760

    Nearby metros — Waiters and Waitresses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $46,280
    District of Columbia $45,770
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $38,440
    Virginia $36,990
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $36,910
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $35,900

    Related occupations in Ames, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,890
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,310
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,290
    Bartenders $22,610
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,330
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,910

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Ames, IA is $13.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.33 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Ames, IA is 15.1% below the national median of $33,760. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Waiters and Waitresses in Ames?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $15,530 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $18,190.