The median annual wage for Food Preparation Workers in Ames, IA is $30,510 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $30,980.
Pay spans roughly $22,310 at the 10th percentile to $38,430 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $14.67 per hour. An estimated 170 people work as food preparation workers in Ames, IA.
| Median (annual) | $30,510 |
| Mean (annual) | $30,980 |
| Median (hourly) | $14.67 |
| 10th percentile | $22,310 |
| 90th percentile | $38,430 |
| Employment | 170 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.