Ames, IA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does an auto mechanic make in Ames, IA?

In the Ames, IA metropolitan area, auto mechanics earned a median of $58,820 a year ($28.28 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 260 of these jobs there. That is 17% above the $50,220 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $37,490 and $84,840; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Iowa tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $47,859 in take-home pay.

Auto mechanic pay in Ames, IA at a glance

Median salary

$58,820$28.28 per hour · $4,902 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$37,490$18.03/hr
25th percentile$43,470$20.90/hr
75th percentile$71,590$34.42/hr
90th percentile$84,840$40.79/hr
Jobs in this metro260Location quotient 1.02 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here17% aboveAll-jobs median $50,220
Against Iowa16% aboveStatewide median $50,510
Against the U.S.16% aboveNational median $50,620

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Auto mechanic salary in Ames, IA after taxes

$58,820
$20,000$120,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$58,820
Net 81%
Fed 8%
IA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$47,859After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,988Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,841Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,878 / yr
Iowa state income tax$1,583 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,500 / yr

Auto mechanics pay range in Ames, IA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Ames, IA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What auto mechanics earned in the Ames, IA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (IA)
10th percentile$18.03/hr$3,124$37,490$31,530
25th percentile$20.90/hr$3,623$43,470$36,108
MedianMedian$28.28/hr$4,902$58,820$47,859
75th percentile$34.42/hr$5,966$71,590$57,125
90th percentile$40.79/hr$7,070$84,840$65,943

Is $58,820 a good salary in Ames, IA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for auto mechanics next to both.

Median household income$73,127Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)88.811.2% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household80.4%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Auto mechanic pay in Ames, IA: common questions

What is the median salary for auto mechanics in Ames, IA?

The BLS median annual wage for auto mechanics in the Ames, IA metro area was $58,820 in May 2025, about $4,902 a month or $28.28 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $50,510, so the metro pays 16% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for auto mechanics in Ames, IA?

The median hourly wage for auto mechanics in Ames, IA was $28.28 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.03 an hour and one in ten earned more than $40.79.

How many auto mechanics work in Ames, IA?

BLS estimated 260 jobs for auto mechanics in the metro in May 2025, or 4.6 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.02 means the job is about as common here as in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for auto mechanics in Ames, IA?

BLS wage estimates for auto mechanics in Ames, IA run from $37,490 at the 10th percentile to $43,470 at the 25th, $71,590 at the 75th, and $84,840 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do auto mechanics take home after taxes in Ames, IA?

On a median gross salary of $58,820, an estimated $47,859 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,841 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $10,961 (an effective rate of 18.6%).

How much do auto mechanics make per month in Ames, IA?

On the median annual salary of $58,820, gross monthly income is $4,902. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,988 per month (or $1,841 every two weeks).

Is $58,820 a good salary in Ames, IA?

At $58,820, the median salary for auto mechanics is 80.4% of the Ames, IA median household income ($73,127). It is 17% above the $50,220 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 88.8, so prices here run 11.2% below the U.S. average.