High paying jobs in Ames, IA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Ames, IA, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$100,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,200 – $111,37040
2Dental Hygienists$89,130
Associate's degree
$78,610 – $95,16080
3Firefighters$86,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,440 – $86,01060
4Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$83,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,910 – $110,13050
5Computer Network Support Specialists$82,360
Associate's degree
$52,720 – $100,790200
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,110
Associate's degree
$69,580 – $102,38030
7Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,210
Associate's degree
$55,100 – $90,570150
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,880 – $87,010150
9Production Workers, All Other$70,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,140 – $82,16070
10Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$69,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,340 – $69,09060
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,650 – $125,260440
12Industrial Machinery Mechanics$67,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,390 – $86,050150
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$66,760
Associate's degree
$50,260 – $82,53090
14Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,420 – $78,050190
15Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,740 – $82,42080
16Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$65,020
Associate's degree
$48,180 – $85,24050
17Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,630 – $96,06080
18Sheet Metal Workers$64,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $92,86060
19Computer User Support Specialists$63,830
Some college, no degree
$47,060 – $100,560350
20Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,670 – $97,500160
21Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,620
Associate's degree
$46,550 – $104,53050
22Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$63,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,600 – $77,68080
23Insurance Sales Agents$63,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,750 – $118,310160
24Electricians$63,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,900 – $89,990210
25Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,530 – $123,770220
26Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,490 – $80,640190
27Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$62,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,960 – $76,68080
28Physical Therapist Assistants$62,040
Associate's degree
$50,190 – $73,77030
29Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$61,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,100 – $79,010240
30Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,270 – $88,38070
31Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $82,64080
32Highway Maintenance Workers$60,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,190 – $71,590110
33Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,840
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
34Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $79,940140
35Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,290 – $79,890190
36Machinists$60,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,120 – $74,06060
37Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,490 – $84,840260
38Automotive Body and Related Repairers$58,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,180 – $119,99050
39Public Safety Telecommunicators$58,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,700 – $68,02040
40Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$58,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,620 – $67,110170
41Postal Service Clerks$58,470
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $70,49040
42Correctional Officers and Jailers$58,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,020 – $84,62040
43Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,230
No formal educational credential
$37,870 – $74,16060
44Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$57,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,980 – $67,92080
45Loan Interviewers and Clerks$57,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,390 – $74,84050
46Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$56,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,340 – $69,43030
47Carpenters$55,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $66,090210
48Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$54,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $68,39060
49Bus Drivers, School$54,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,850 – $95,320220
50Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$54,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,480 – $73,830670

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	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,170	$76,200 – $111,370	40
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$89,130	$78,610 – $95,160	80
3	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,010	$38,440 – $86,010	60
4	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,010	$61,910 – $110,130	50
5	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,360	$52,720 – $100,790	200
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,110	$69,580 – $102,380	30
7	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,210	$55,100 – $90,570	150
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,840	$53,880 – $87,010	150
9	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,690	$39,140 – $82,160	70
10	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,090	$40,340 – $69,090	60
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,680	$40,650 – $125,260	440
12	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,250	$49,390 – $86,050	150
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,760	$50,260 – $82,530	90
14	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,610	$51,420 – $78,050	190
15	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,470	$46,740 – $82,420	80
16	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,020	$48,180 – $85,240	50
17	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,940	$47,630 – $96,060	80
18	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,420	$39,480 – $92,860	60
19	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$63,830	$47,060 – $100,560	350
20	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,820	$41,670 – $97,500	160
21	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,620	$46,550 – $104,530	50
22	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,490	$48,600 – $77,680	80
23	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,400	$24,750 – $118,310	160
24	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,320	$39,900 – $89,990	210
25	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,230	$35,530 – $123,770	220
26	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$48,490 – $80,640	190
27	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,300	$46,960 – $76,680	80
28	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,040	$50,190 – $73,770	30
29	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,820	$44,100 – $79,010	240
30	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,730	$44,270 – $88,380	70
31	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,360	$46,820 – $82,640	80
32	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,980	$47,190 – $71,590	110
33	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,840	$42,390 – $81,040	130
34	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,800	$45,900 – $79,940	140
35	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,430	$41,290 – $79,890	190
36	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,200	$53,120 – $74,060	60
37	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,820	$37,490 – $84,840	260
38	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,790	$37,180 – $119,990	50
39	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,610	$50,700 – $68,020	40
40	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,560	$40,620 – $67,110	170
41	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$42,600 – $70,490	40
42	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,410	$49,020 – $84,620	40
43	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,230	$37,870 – $74,160	60
44	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,800	$41,980 – $67,920	80
45	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,580	$39,390 – $74,840	50
46	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,920	$42,340 – $69,430	30
47	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,640	$39,110 – $66,090	210
48	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,950	$35,900 – $68,390	60
49	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,780	$37,850 – $95,320	220
50	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,770	$37,480 – $73,830	670

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 experience

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