How Much Does a CNA Make in Ames, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Ames, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Ames metro area
A typical CNA in Ames, Iowa earns $20.93 per hour, or $43,540 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,628 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,010, and the top 10% of earners make over $48,920.
That pay is 11% above the Iowa figure of $39,350 and 3% above the national figure of $42,260. Ames ranks 2nd of 8 metro areas in Iowa for CNA pay. About 770 CNAs work in the Ames area.
CNA pay in Ames at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.93 an hour, or $43,540 a year.
- That is 11% above the Iowa figure, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,010; the top 10% make over $48,920.
- Typical pay rose +53% from 2015 to 2025, against +57% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Ames?
Pay in Ames runs from entry-level positions at around $17.79 an hour to more than $23.52 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Ames
| Career stage | Ames | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,010$17.79 an hour | $35,620$17.13 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $38,520$18.52 an hour | $37,360$17.96 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $43,540$20.93 an hour | $39,350$18.92 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,120$22.65 an hour | $45,650$21.95 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $48,920$23.52 an hour | $47,980$23.07 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Ames area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Ames
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Ames area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Ames was $28,370 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,540, a change of +53%, compared with +57% for Iowa over the same years.
How Ames compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays CNAs the most in Iowa at $43,940 a year, $400 more than Ames. The lowest-paying area in the state is Davenport at $38,740.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Ames | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $43,940 | $21.13 | +1% | 4,660 |
| 2 | Ames | $43,540 | $20.93 | this city | 770 |
| 3 | Dubuque | $41,580 | $19.99 | -5% | 1,010 |
| 4 | Iowa City | $39,330 | $18.91 | -10% | 1,310 |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids | $39,110 | $18.80 | -10% | 1,740 |
| 6 | Sioux City | $38,940 | $18.72 | -11% | 930 |
| 7 | Waterloo metro incl. Cedar Falls | $38,930 | $18.72 | -11% | 1,440 |
| 8 | Davenport | $38,740 | $18.62 | -11% | 2,220 |
Every metro area in Iowa with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $39,350
Is Ames a good place to work as a CNA?
CNA pay in Ames sits close to the national figure: $43,540 a year, 3% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Ames area, about 14 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.4. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Ames, IA?
- A typical CNA in Ames earns $43,540 a year, or $20.93 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,010 and the top 10% earn over $48,920.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Ames?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Ames is $20.93. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.79, and the top 10% earn over $23.52 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Ames?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Ames typically offer around $17.79 an hour, or $37,010 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Ames higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Ames pay is 11% above the Iowa figure of $39,350 a year, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $43,940.