Salary guide, May 2025
Food Process Operator pay in Ames, IA
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The median annual wage for Food Processing Workers, All Other in Ames, IA was $43,520 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $43,520 and $43,520.
The Ames, IA median is $3,840 above the national median of $39,680, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, All Other
The Food Process Operator title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
What should you know about ames, IA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $29,570 | $43,520 | $43,520 | $43,520 | $48,580 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $14.22 | $20.93 | $20.93 | $20.93 | $23.35 |
BLS estimated 50 workers employed in this occupation in Ames, IA. Location quotient: 2.01.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $32,210 | $36,410 | $39,680 | $44,130 | $47,950 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.49 | $17.51 | $19.08 | $21.22 | $23.05 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Food Process Operator median is $43,520. The all-occupations median in Ames, IA is $50,220. Ratio: 0.87 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 2.01 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 | $40,720 | $40,720 | $46,780 |
| May 2025 | $43,520 | $43,520 | $43,520 |
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 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, 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 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, 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 | $42,960 | $42,490 to $43,070 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $41,070 | $41,070 to $46,250 |
All roles in Ames, IA · National page · Food Process Operator ranked across metros