Highway Maintenance Worker salary in Ames, IA
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $60,980 a year ($29.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,590 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $50,260. Pay here is 4% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $58,490. There are 1.9 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,290, close to the median.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| 25th percentile | $51,050 | $24.54 |
| Median | $60,980 | $29.32 |
| 75th percentile | $65,750 | $31.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,590 | $34.42 |
| Average (mean) | $59,290 | $28.50 |
Half of highway maintenance workers 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 | $5,081.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,540.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,345.38 |
| Weekly | $1,172.69 |
| Hourly | $29.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highway Maintenance Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $61,420 | 60 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $60,900 | 560 |
| Iowa City, IA | $60,110 | 150 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $59,380 | 140 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,440 | 220 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $57,760 | 180 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $55,030 | 400 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $53,100 | 510 |
Highest-paying states for highway maintenance workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $65,330 |
| Washington | $65,300 |
| Connecticut | $64,870 |
| Minnesota | $63,150 |
| Illinois | $61,700 |
| Massachusetts | $61,500 |
| Montana | $60,960 |
| North Dakota | $60,630 |
| California | $59,580 |
| Iowa | $58,490 |
See Highway Maintenance Worker pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $79,740 | $38.34 |
| Construction Laborer | $49,810 | $23.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $72,260 | $34.74 |
| Carpenter | $55,640 | $26.75 |
| Electrician | $63,320 | $30.44 |
| 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 |
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 47-4051. 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 highway maintenance worker make in Ames, IA?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in the Ames, IA metro area is $60,980 a year, or $29.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $71,590 a year. The top 25% earn $65,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,190 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $51,050 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in Ames, IA?
About 110 highway maintenance workers are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.