Computer User Support Specialist salary in Ames, IA
Computer User Support Specialists in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $63,830 a year ($30.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,560 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $61,860. Pay here is 9% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $58,810. There are 6.2 computer user support specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $69,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer user support specialists in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,060 | $22.62 |
| 25th percentile | $56,540 | $27.18 |
| Median | $63,830 | $30.69 |
| 75th percentile | $80,360 | $38.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,560 | $48.35 |
| Average (mean) | $69,630 | $33.48 |
Half of computer user support specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,319.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,659.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,455 |
| Weekly | $1,227.50 |
| Hourly | $30.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer User Support Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $61,750 | 370 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $60,870 | 3,030 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $59,630 | 270 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $59,450 | 2,110 |
| Dubuque, IA | $59,190 | 230 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,330 | 690 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $55,850 | 630 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $50,430 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for computer user support specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $80,950 |
| California | $79,570 |
| Washington | $75,220 |
| Massachusetts | $75,070 |
| New York | $72,560 |
| Colorado | $71,900 |
| Connecticut | $70,210 |
| Wyoming | $65,100 |
| Virginia | $65,040 |
| Maryland | $64,750 |
See Computer User Support Specialist pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $129,440 | $62.23 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $96,920 | $46.59 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $82,360 | $39.60 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $92,310 | $44.38 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $78,030 | $37.52 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $96,560 | $46.42 |
| Computer Network Architect | $102,630 | $49.34 |
| Computer Programmer | $77,720 | $37.36 |
| Information Security Analyst | $107,520 | $51.69 |
| Data Scientist | $79,430 | $38.19 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1232. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer user support specialist make in Ames, IA?
The median salary for computer user support specialists in the Ames, IA metro area is $63,830 a year, or $30.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer user support specialists make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of computer user support specialists in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $100,560 a year. The top 25% earn $80,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer user support specialists in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,060 a year, and a quarter of computer user support specialists earn $56,540 or less.
How many computer user support specialists work in Ames, IA?
About 350 computer user support specialists are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.