Ames, IA

247 occupations with BLS estimates, May 2025. BLS area code 11180.

BLS figures are for its own occupation list. Where one BLS occupation covers several O*NET occupations, it links to the first and says how many.

Largest

Occupation	Employment
Fast Food and Counter Workers (2 O*NET occupations)	1,620
Cashiers	1,470
Retail Salespersons	1,460
Stockers and Order Fillers	1,110
Registered Nurses (5 O*NET occupations)	1,070
General and Operations Managers	1,040
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	1,030
Waiters and Waitresses	1,010
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary (3 O*NET occupations)	780
Nursing Assistants	770
Business Operations Specialists, All Other (5 O*NET occupations)	710
Office Clerks, General	710
Home Health and Personal Care Aides (2 O*NET occupations)	700
Customer Service Representatives	690
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	670
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (2 O*NET occupations)	650
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	640
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	620
Construction Laborers	600
Cooks, Restaurant	570

Most concentrated

By location quotient: the occupation's share of jobs here divided by its share nationally. Occupations employing fewer than 100 here are left out.

Occupation	Location quotient	Employment
Farm and Home Management Educators	33.67	100
Agricultural Technicians (2 O*NET occupations)	25.16	140
Soil and Plant Scientists	23.82	130
Biological Scientists, All Other (5 O*NET occupations)	8.21	160
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians	5.90	270
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians	5.89	150
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	4.31	190
Computer Network Support Specialists	3.85	200
Library Assistants, Clerical	3.61	110
Butchers and Meat Cutters	3.25	160
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	3.24	110
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	3.18	400
Printing Press Operators	2.80	150
Public Relations Specialists	2.41	250
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria	2.37	380
Civil Engineers (3 O*NET occupations)	2.20	290
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	2.09	280
Recreation Workers	2.04	240
Animal Caretakers	2.02	190
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	1.93	100

Highest median wage

Occupation	Median annual
Family Medicine Physicians	$248,000
Chief Executives (2 O*NET occupations)	$206,090
Dentists, General	$163,950
Pharmacists	$139,690
Managers, All Other (7 O*NET occupations)	$138,110
Human Resources Managers	$137,390
Architectural and Engineering Managers (2 O*NET occupations)	$137,010
Sales Managers	$133,150
Marketing Managers	$132,050
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$131,340
Software Developers	$129,440
Nurse Practitioners	$127,600
Lawyers	$125,200
Financial Managers (3 O*NET occupations)	$124,010
Veterinarians	$118,240
Natural Sciences Managers (3 O*NET occupations)	$116,540
Industrial Production Managers (6 O*NET occupations)	$113,930
Information Security Analysts	$107,520
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	$106,520
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products (2 O*NET occupations)	$105,330

All 247 occupations

BLS occupation	Employment	Median annual	Location quotient
Accountants and Auditors `13-2011`	530	$79,320	1.02
Administrative Services Managers `11-3012`	40	$103,440	0.47
Agricultural Equipment Operators `45-2091`	30	$47,610	2.96
Agricultural Technicians (2 O*NET occupations) `19-4012`	140	$48,430	25.16
Amusement and Recreation Attendants `39-3091`	110	$27,100	0.77
Animal Caretakers `39-2021`	190	$38,700	2.02
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval `17-1011`	30	$95,750	0.90
Architectural and Civil Drafters `17-3011`	50	$63,620	1.30
Architectural and Engineering Managers (2 O*NET occupations) `11-9041`	90	$137,010	1.14
Automotive Body and Related Repairers `49-3021`	50	$58,790	0.91
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics `49-3023`	260	$58,820	1.02
Bakers `51-3011`	90	$36,520	1.01
Bartenders `35-3011`	450	$21,580	1.65
Billing and Posting Clerks `43-3021`	90	$47,050	0.59
Biological Scientists, All Other (5 O*NET occupations) `19-1029`	160	$82,720	8.21
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks `43-3031`	470	$47,970	0.95
Budget Analysts `13-2031`	80	$84,030	4.44
Bus Drivers, School `53-3051`	220	$54,780	1.50
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists `49-3031`	80	$61,360	0.72
Business Operations Specialists, All Other (5 O*NET occupations) `13-1199`	710	$76,510	1.82
Butchers and Meat Cutters `51-3021`	160	$36,110	3.25
Buyers and Purchasing Agents (3 O*NET occupations) `13-1020`	180	$68,880	1.03
Carpenters `47-2031`	210	$55,640	0.87
Cashiers `41-2011`	1,470	$29,230	1.33
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers `47-2051`	60	$58,230	0.82
Chefs and Head Cooks `35-1011`	60	$51,360	0.78
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders `51-9011`	80	$62,300	1.52
Chemists `19-2031`	40	$84,300	1.37
Chief Executives (2 O*NET occupations) `11-1011`	110	$206,090	1.43
Child, Family, and School Social Workers `21-1021`	120	$46,370	0.84
Childcare Workers (2 O*NET occupations) `39-9011`	260	$27,850	1.38
Chiropractors `29-1011`	30	$56,890	2.19
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians `17-3022`	150	$79,210	5.89
Civil Engineers (3 O*NET occupations) `17-2051`	290	$100,200	2.20
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment `53-7061`	110	$36,390	0.84
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians (6 O*NET occupations) `29-2010`	110	$56,380	0.91
Coaches and Scouts `27-2022`	110	$36,740	1.23
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders `51-9124`	60	$69,090	1.04
Compliance Officers (7 O*NET occupations) `13-1041`	160	$80,370	1.07
Computer Network Architects (2 O*NET occupations) `15-1241`	30	$102,630	0.54
Computer Network Support Specialists `15-1231`	200	$82,360	3.85
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators `51-9161`	50	$47,330	0.84
Computer Occupations, All Other (10 O*NET occupations) `15-1299`	160	$92,310	1.04
Computer Programmers `15-1251`	30	$77,720	1.05
Computer Systems Analysts (2 O*NET occupations) `15-1211`	220	$96,920	1.17
Computer User Support Specialists `15-1232`	350	$63,830	1.35
Computer and Information Systems Managers `11-3021`	130	$131,340	0.53
Construction Laborers `47-2061`	600	$49,810	1.52
Construction Managers `11-9021`	120	$96,720	0.89
Construction and Building Inspectors (2 O*NET occupations) `47-4011`	40	$79,740	0.80
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door `49-9012`	50	$83,010	2.89
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria `35-2012`	380	$36,540	2.37
Cooks, Restaurant `35-2014`	570	$36,410	1.13
Cooks, Short Order `35-2015`	60	$36,070	1.16
Correctional Officers and Jailers `33-3012`	40	$58,410	0.29
Cost Estimators `13-1051`	50	$76,920	0.63
Counter and Rental Clerks `41-2021`	100	$38,780	0.67
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks `43-4031`	80	$57,800	1.17
Customer Service Representatives `43-4051`	690	$42,820	0.74
Data Entry Keyers `43-9021`	50	$45,140	1.05
Data Scientists (3 O*NET occupations) `15-2051`	100	$79,430	1.08
Dental Assistants `31-9091`	110	$49,140	0.81
Dental Hygienists `29-1292`	80	$89,130	1.01
Dentists, General `29-1021`	40	$163,950	0.92
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers `29-2032`	30	$82,110	0.98
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers `35-9011`	110	$29,630	0.58
Dishwashers `35-9021`	110	$30,110	0.66
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance `43-5032`	50	$48,680	0.63
Driver/Sales Workers `53-3031`	130	$28,760	0.89
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary `11-9032`	90	$106,520	0.78
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare `11-9031`	50	$47,660	1.82
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors `21-1012`	400	$50,260	3.18
Electrical Engineers `17-2071`	40	$103,750	0.51
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers `49-9051`	40	$100,170	0.76
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (2 O*NET occupations) `51-2028`	90	$39,080	1.02
Electricians `47-2111`	210	$63,320	0.77
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education `25-2021`	440	$62,430	0.88
Emergency Medical Technicians `29-2042`	30	$46,000	0.47
Engineers, All Other (9 O*NET occupations) `17-2199`	50	$95,260	0.81
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants `43-6011`	140	$61,990	0.83
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors `39-9031`	110	$32,150	0.94
Facilities Managers (2 O*NET occupations) `11-3013`	110	$88,910	1.92
Family Medicine Physicians `29-1215`	60	$248,000	1.44
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians `49-3041`	80	$63,490	6.23
Farm and Home Management Educators `25-9021`	100	$60,840	33.67
Fast Food and Counter Workers (2 O*NET occupations) `35-3023`	1,620	$29,220	1.17
Financial Managers (3 O*NET occupations) `11-3031`	220	$124,010	0.73
Financial and Investment Analysts `13-2051`	40	$90,650	0.29
Firefighters `33-2011`	60	$86,010	0.48
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (2 O*NET occupations) `47-1011`	290	$72,260	0.98
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services `39-1014`	50	$43,830	1.30
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers `35-1012`	490	$39,710	1.11
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers `37-1011`	70	$46,540	1.08
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers `37-1012`	50	$57,360	1.06
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers `49-1011`	220	$79,080	0.97
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers `41-1012`	70	$80,990	0.90
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers `43-1011`	280	$66,420	0.55
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives `33-1012`	60	$102,930	1.01
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers `51-1011`	300	$74,160	1.22
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers `41-1011`	350	$48,300	0.87
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors (5 O*NET occupations) `53-1047`	180	$58,270	0.79
Food Batchmakers `51-3092`	110	$50,950	1.68
Food Preparation Workers `35-2021`	140	$29,900	0.45
Food Processing Workers, All Other `51-3099`	50	$43,520	2.01
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant `35-3041`	180	$31,840	1.71
Food Service Managers `11-9051`	100	$62,590	1.14
Fundraisers `13-1131`	80	$80,430	2.06
General and Operations Managers `11-1021`	1,040	$97,700	0.82
Graphic Designers `27-1024`	110	$57,060	1.50
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists `39-5012`	170	$36,170	1.51
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other (4 O*NET occupations) `29-2099`	50	$48,060	0.71
Healthcare Social Workers `21-1022`	30	$61,760	0.45
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers `49-9021`	190	$60,430	1.29
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers `53-3032`	640	$54,510	0.87
Helpers--Production Workers `51-9198`	50	$39,070	0.76
Highway Maintenance Workers `47-4051`	110	$60,980	1.92
Home Health and Personal Care Aides (2 O*NET occupations) `31-1120`	700	$35,660	0.45
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop `35-9031`	140	$28,480	0.87
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping `43-4161`	40	$45,200	1.20
Human Resources Managers `11-3121`	60	$137,390	0.74
Human Resources Specialists `13-1071`	260	$70,060	0.79
Industrial Engineers (4 O*NET occupations) `17-2112`	140	$88,650	1.04
Industrial Machinery Mechanics `49-9041`	150	$67,250	0.96
Industrial Production Managers (6 O*NET occupations) `11-3051`	120	$113,930	1.39
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators `53-7051`	110	$48,310	0.40
Information Security Analysts `15-1212`	30	$107,520	0.48
Information and Record Clerks, All Other `43-4199`	90	$53,710	1.81
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers `51-9061`	240	$61,820	1.11
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other (2 O*NET occupations) `49-9099`	60	$54,950	0.90
Instructional Coordinators `25-9031`	110	$69,490	1.31
Insurance Sales Agents `41-3021`	160	$63,400	0.95
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners `37-2011`	1,030	$35,300	1.29
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (2 O*NET occupations) `53-7062`	650	$40,280	0.61
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers `37-3011`	390	$44,580	1.12
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers `51-6011`	40	$34,790	0.61
Lawyers `23-1011`	90	$125,200	0.35
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists `25-4022`	90	$60,610	1.96
Library Assistants, Clerical `43-4121`	110	$30,070	3.61
Library Technicians `25-4031`	40	$45,880	1.79
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses `29-2061`	190	$65,610	0.83
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other (3 O*NET occupations) `19-4099`	50	$65,020	1.76
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers `33-9092`	40	$23,640	0.66
Light Truck Drivers `53-3033`	200	$40,050	0.55
Loan Interviewers and Clerks `43-4131`	50	$57,580	0.88
Loan Officers `13-2072`	70	$84,470	0.69
Logisticians (3 O*NET occupations) `13-1081`	80	$75,620	0.84
Machinists `51-4041`	60	$60,200	0.55
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners `37-2012`	260	$32,830	0.84
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General `49-9071`	670	$54,770	1.22
Management Analysts `13-1111`	150	$88,510	0.45
Managers, All Other (7 O*NET occupations) `11-9199`	120	$138,110	0.54
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (2 O*NET occupations) `13-1161`	380	$61,100	1.16
Marketing Managers `11-2021`	110	$132,050	0.78
Mechanical Engineers (3 O*NET occupations) `17-2141`	120	$98,610	1.11
Medical Assistants `31-9092`	180	$45,810	0.61
Medical Records Specialists `29-2072`	70	$49,850	0.95
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists `19-1042`	110	$93,720	1.74
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants `43-6013`	420	$40,210	1.20
Medical and Health Services Managers `11-9111`	280	$103,730	1.32
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners `13-1121`	100	$47,980	1.93
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers `27-1026`	30	$36,720	0.54
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education `25-2022`	250	$63,200	1.12
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators (2 O*NET occupations) `51-2090`	470	$49,360	0.94
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders `51-9023`	110	$52,020	3.24
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines `49-3042`	80	$64,940	1.19
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic `51-4081`	190	$49,670	4.31
Natural Sciences Managers (3 O*NET occupations) `11-9121`	90	$116,540	2.30
Network and Computer Systems Administrators `15-1244`	90	$78,030	0.84
New Accounts Clerks `43-4141`	50	$47,870	3.47
Nurse Practitioners `29-1171`	70	$127,600	0.62
Nursing Assistants `31-1131`	770	$43,540	1.47
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists `19-5011`	70	$82,970	1.35
Occupational Therapists (2 O*NET occupations) `29-1122`	40	$73,810	0.70
Office Clerks, General `43-9061`	710	$45,450	0.80
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other `43-9199`	70	$48,320	0.96
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators `47-2073`	190	$62,400	1.10
Opticians, Dispensing `29-2081`	40	$40,860	1.36
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders `51-9111`	280	$48,250	2.09
Packers and Packagers, Hand `53-7064`	50	$34,490	0.25
Painters, Construction and Maintenance `47-2141`	70	$44,780	0.81
Paralegals and Legal Assistants `23-2011`	60	$53,180	0.40
Paramedics `29-2043`	40	$62,920	1.17
Parking Attendants `53-6021`	40	$31,070	0.76
Parts Salespersons `41-2022`	120	$40,540	1.21
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks `43-3051`	30	$56,920	0.59
Personal Financial Advisors `13-2052`	40	$90,590	0.42
Pharmacists `29-1051`	70	$139,690	0.65
Pharmacy Technicians `29-2052`	140	$39,310	0.85
Phlebotomists `31-9097`	40	$38,240	0.83
Physical Therapist Assistants `31-2021`	30	$62,040	0.76
Physical Therapists `29-1123`	70	$90,610	0.72
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (2 O*NET occupations) `47-2152`	160	$63,820	0.97
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (2 O*NET occupations) `33-3051`	150	$73,840	0.64
Postal Service Clerks `43-5051`	40	$58,470	1.51
Postal Service Mail Carriers `43-5052`	130	$60,840	1.07
Prepress Technicians and Workers `51-5111`	40	$54,460	4.38
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education `25-2011`	290	$30,590	1.66
Printing Press Operators `51-5112`	150	$46,850	2.80
Production Workers, All Other `51-9199`	70	$70,690	0.76
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks `43-5061`	140	$60,800	0.97
Project Management Specialists `13-1082`	260	$97,290	0.68
Property Appraisers and Assessors (2 O*NET occupations) `13-2020`	50	$78,480	2.40
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers `11-9141`	150	$55,600	1.38
Public Relations Specialists `27-3031`	250	$62,970	2.41
Public Safety Telecommunicators `43-5031`	40	$58,610	1.14
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians `29-2034`	90	$66,760	1.05
Real Estate Brokers `41-9021`	Not available	$41,440
Receptionists and Information Clerks `43-4171`	170	$35,170	0.53
Recreation Workers `39-9032`	240	$31,110	2.04
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors `53-7081`	90	$47,810	1.73
Registered Nurses (5 O*NET occupations) `29-1141`	1,070	$77,160	0.88
Residential Advisors `39-9041`	60	$48,230	1.94
Retail Salespersons `41-2031`	1,460	$32,460	1.04
Sales Managers `11-2022`	110	$133,150	0.46
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel `41-3091`	220	$63,230	0.50
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products `41-4012`	440	$68,680	0.99
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products (2 O*NET occupations) `41-4011`	120	$105,330	1.17
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education `25-2031`	310	$63,450	0.82
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive `43-6014`	620	$48,740	1.02
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents `41-3031`	70	$62,050	0.38
Security Guards `33-9032`	260	$37,430	0.56
Self-Enrichment Teachers `25-3021`	190	$29,570	1.60
Sheet Metal Workers `47-2211`	60	$64,420	1.45
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks `43-5071`	210	$47,840	0.72
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs `53-3053`	50	$31,670	0.59
Skincare Specialists `39-5094`	30	Not available	1.16
Social and Community Service Managers `11-9151`	100	$63,770	1.35
Social and Human Service Assistants `21-1093`	180	$38,240	1.12
Software Developers `15-1252`	470	$129,440	0.77
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers `15-1253`	40	$96,560	0.66
Soil and Plant Scientists `19-1013`	130	$65,080	23.82
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School (2 O*NET occupations) `25-2052`	70	$63,480	0.78
Speech-Language Pathologists `29-1127`	60	$83,170	0.88
Stockers and Order Fillers `53-7065`	1,110	$36,240	1.09
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (2 O*NET occupations) `21-1018`	130	$69,750	0.75
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term `25-3031`	260	$36,330	1.37
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary (3 O*NET occupations) `25-9045`	780	$30,420	1.52
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers `49-2022`	80	$65,470	1.61
Tellers `43-3071`	180	$43,060	1.50
Training and Development Specialists `13-1151`	170	$67,860	1.02
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (2 O*NET occupations) `11-3071`	60	$104,930	0.74
Veterinarians `29-1131`	80	$118,240	2.73
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers `31-9096`	90	$38,300	2.00
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians `29-2056`	270	$50,730	5.90
Waiters and Waitresses `35-3031`	1,010	$22,710	1.24
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators `51-8031`	70	$61,730	1.54
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers `51-4121`	170	$58,560	1.10