Salary guide, May 2025
Automation Engineer pay in Ames, IA
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Engineers, All Other in Ames, IA was $95,260 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $81,950 and $114,830.
The Ames, IA median is $27,670 below the national median of $122,930, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2199 Engineers, All Other
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
What should you know about ames, IA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74,950 | $81,950 | $95,260 | $114,830 | $134,190 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36.04 | $39.40 | $45.80 | $55.21 | $64.51 |
BLS estimated 50 workers employed in this occupation in Ames, IA. Location quotient: 0.81.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $66,810 | $90,970 | $122,930 | $158,090 | $189,950 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $32.12 | $43.73 | $59.10 | $76.01 | $91.32 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Automation Engineer median is $95,260. The all-occupations median in Ames, IA is $50,220. Ratio: 1.90 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.81 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $80,820 | $100,400 | $111,110 |
| May 2025 | $81,950 | $95,260 | $114,830 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2199 Engineers, All Other, Ames, IA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2199 Engineers, All Other, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $100,880 | $82,650 to $128,960 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $96,440 | $78,240 to $103,070 |
All roles in Ames, IA · National page · Automation Engineer ranked across metros