High paying jobs in Ames, IA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Ames, IA and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Ames, IA run 11.2% below the national average (2024), so a Ames, IA salary is worth about 1.13× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Ames, IA

OccupationMedian, Ames, IA · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$104,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,410 – $157,99060
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$102,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,000 – $128,98060
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$100,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,200 – $111,37040
4Dental Hygienists$89,130
Associate's degree
$78,610 – $95,16080
5Firefighters$86,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,440 – $86,01060
6Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$83,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,910 – $110,13050
7Computer Network Support Specialists$82,360
Associate's degree
$52,720 – $100,790200
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,110
Associate's degree
$69,580 – $102,38030
9First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$80,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $165,02070
10Construction and Building Inspectors$79,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,940 – $94,74040
11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,210
Associate's degree
$55,100 – $90,570150
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,530 – $109,110220
13First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,470 – $99,010300
14Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,880 – $87,010150
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$72,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,760 – $103,340290
16Production Workers, All Other$70,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,140 – $82,16070
17Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$69,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,340 – $69,09060
18Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,650 – $125,260440
19Industrial Machinery Mechanics$67,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,390 – $86,050150
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$66,760
Associate's degree
$50,260 – $82,53090
21First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $96,010280
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,420 – $78,050190
23Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,740 – $82,42080
24Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$65,020
Associate's degree
$48,180 – $85,24050
25Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,630 – $96,06080
26Sheet Metal Workers$64,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $92,86060
27Computer User Support Specialists$63,830
Some college, no degree
$47,060 – $100,560350
28Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,670 – $97,500160
29Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,620
Associate's degree
$46,550 – $104,53050
30Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$63,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,600 – $77,68080
31Insurance Sales Agents$63,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,750 – $118,310160
32Electricians$63,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,900 – $89,990210
33Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,530 – $123,770220
34Paramedics$62,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,650 – $80,12040
35Food Service Managers$62,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,600 – $105,640100
36Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,490 – $80,640190
37Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$62,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,960 – $76,68080
38Physical Therapist Assistants$62,040
Associate's degree
$50,190 – $73,77030
39Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$61,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $83,470140
40Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$61,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,100 – $79,010240
41Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,270 – $88,38070
42Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $82,64080
43Highway Maintenance Workers$60,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,190 – $71,590110
44Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,840
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
45Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $79,940140
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,290 – $79,890190
47Machinists$60,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,120 – $74,06060
48Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,490 – $84,840260
49Automotive Body and Related Repairers$58,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,180 – $119,99050
50Public Safety Telecommunicators$58,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,700 – $68,02040

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianAmes, IA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,930	$67,410 – $157,990	60
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,930	$77,000 – $128,980	60
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,170	$76,200 – $111,370	40
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$89,130	$78,610 – $95,160	80
5	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,010	$38,440 – $86,010	60
6	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,010	$61,910 – $110,130	50
7	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,360	$52,720 – $100,790	200
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,110	$69,580 – $102,380	30
9	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,990	$47,840 – $165,020	70
10	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,740	$56,940 – $94,740	40
11	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,210	$55,100 – $90,570	150
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,080	$50,530 – $109,110	220
13	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,160	$46,470 – $99,010	300
14	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,840	$53,880 – $87,010	150
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,260	$52,760 – $103,340	290
16	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,690	$39,140 – $82,160	70
17	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,090	$40,340 – $69,090	60
18	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,680	$40,650 – $125,260	440
19	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,250	$49,390 – $86,050	150
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,760	$50,260 – $82,530	90
21	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,420	$45,610 – $96,010	280
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,610	$51,420 – $78,050	190
23	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,470	$46,740 – $82,420	80
24	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,020	$48,180 – $85,240	50
25	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,940	$47,630 – $96,060	80
26	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,420	$39,480 – $92,860	60
27	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$63,830	$47,060 – $100,560	350
28	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,820	$41,670 – $97,500	160
29	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,620	$46,550 – $104,530	50
30	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,490	$48,600 – $77,680	80
31	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,400	$24,750 – $118,310	160
32	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,320	$39,900 – $89,990	210
33	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,230	$35,530 – $123,770	220
34	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,920	$48,650 – $80,120	40
35	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,590	$42,600 – $105,640	100
36	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$48,490 – $80,640	190
37	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,300	$46,960 – $76,680	80
38	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,040	$50,190 – $73,770	30
39	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,990	$45,640 – $83,470	140
40	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,820	$44,100 – $79,010	240
41	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,730	$44,270 – $88,380	70
42	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,360	$46,820 – $82,640	80
43	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,980	$47,190 – $71,590	110
44	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,840	$42,390 – $81,040	130
45	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,800	$45,900 – $79,940	140
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,430	$41,290 – $79,890	190
47	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,200	$53,120 – $74,060	60
48	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,820	$37,490 – $84,840	260
49	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,790	$37,180 – $119,990	50
50	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,610	$50,700 – $68,020	40

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Ames, IA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Ames, IA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Ames, IA that need no degree

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