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Ames, IA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Ames, IA?

In the Ames, IA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $29,900 a year ($14.37 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 140 of these jobs there. That is 40% below the $50,220 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $26,580 and $39,100; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Iowa tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $25,720 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Ames, IA at a glance

Median salary

$29,900$14.37 per hour · $2,492 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$26,580$12.78/hr
25th percentile$28,500$13.70/hr
75th percentile$36,720$17.65/hr
90th percentile$39,100$18.80/hr
Jobs in this metro140Location quotient 0.45 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here40% belowAll-jobs median $50,220
Against Iowa2% belowStatewide median $30,360
Against the U.S.15% belowNational median $35,320

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

Take-home payWhat $30,000 a year leaves after tax in IowaFederal tax, FICA and Iowa withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$14 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $30,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $30,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Iowa publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Iowa.

Food preparation worker salary in Ames, IA after taxes

$29,900
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$29,900
Net 86%
Fed 5%
IA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$25,720After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,143Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$989Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,408 / yr
Iowa state income tax$484 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,287 / yr
Customize deductions in full Iowa calculator

Food preparation workers 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 food preparation workers earned in the Ames, IA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (IA)
10th percentile$12.78/hr$2,215$26,580$23,140
25th percentile$13.70/hr$2,375$28,500$24,649
MedianMedian$14.37/hr$2,492$29,900$25,720
75th percentile$17.65/hr$3,060$36,720$30,941
90th percentile$18.80/hr$3,258$39,100$32,763

Is $29,900 a good salary in Ames, IA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers 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 household40.9%of area median income

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

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Food preparation workers pay in other Iowa metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Ames, IA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Ames, IA: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Ames, IA?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Ames, IA metro area was $29,900 in May 2025, about $2,492 a month or $14.37 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $30,360, so the metro pays 2% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Ames, IA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Ames, IA was $14.37 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.78 an hour and one in ten earned more than $18.80.

How many food preparation workers work in Ames, IA?

BLS estimated 140 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 2.6 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.45 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Ames, IA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Ames, IA run from $26,580 at the 10th percentile to $28,500 at the 25th, $36,720 at the 75th, and $39,100 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Ames, IA?

On a median gross salary of $29,900, an estimated $25,720 lands in net take-home pay per year ($989 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,180 (an effective rate of 14%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Ames, IA?

On the median annual salary of $29,900, gross monthly income is $2,492. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,143 per month (or $989 every two weeks).

Is $29,900 a good salary in Ames, IA?

At $29,900, the median salary for food preparation workers is 40.9% of the Ames, IA median household income ($73,127). It is 40% below 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.