Electrician salary in Ames, IA
Electricians in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $63,320 a year ($30.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,990 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $63,190. Pay here is 4% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $60,860. There are 3.7 electricians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $66,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for electricians in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,900 | $19.18 |
| 25th percentile | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Median | $63,320 | $30.44 |
| 75th percentile | $79,030 | $38.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,990 | $43.27 |
| Average (mean) | $66,460 | $31.95 |
Half of electricians 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 | $5,276.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,638.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,435.38 |
| Weekly | $1,217.69 |
| Hourly | $30.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Electrician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $76,950 | 1,450 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $73,910 | 300 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $63,420 | 360 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $62,840 | 2,870 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $62,440 | 3,530 |
| Dubuque, IA | $62,110 | 210 |
| Iowa City, IA | $59,510 | 370 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $50,230 | 1,690 |
Highest-paying states for electricians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $101,310 |
| Illinois | $99,560 |
| Hawaii | $96,460 |
| Washington | $95,220 |
| Alaska | $89,440 |
| Massachusetts | $79,420 |
| District of Columbia | $78,970 |
| New York | $78,750 |
| Minnesota | $78,160 |
| Connecticut | $77,540 |
See Electrician pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $49,810 | $23.95 |
| Carpenter | $55,640 | $26.75 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,820 | $30.68 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $44,780 | $21.53 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,230 | $27.99 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $72,260 | $34.74 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $60,980 | $29.32 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $79,740 | $38.34 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2111. 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 electrician make in Ames, IA?
The median salary for electricians in the Ames, IA metro area is $63,320 a year, or $30.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electricians make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of electricians in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $89,990 a year. The top 25% earn $79,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for electricians in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,900 a year, and a quarter of electricians earn $48,000 or less.
How many electricians work in Ames, IA?
About 210 electricians are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.