How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Ames, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants 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 Medical Assistant in Ames, Iowa earns $22.02 per hour, or $45,810 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,818 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,270, and the top 10% of earners make over $50,340.
That pay is 1% above the Iowa figure of $45,480 and right at the national figure of $45,690. Ames ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Medical Assistant pay. About 180 Medical Assistants work in the Ames area.
Medical Assistant pay in Ames at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.02 an hour, or $45,810 a year.
- That is 1% above the Iowa figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,270; the top 10% make over $50,340.
- Typical pay rose +36% from 2015 to 2025, against +51% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Ames?
Pay in Ames runs from entry-level positions at around $17.92 an hour to more than $24.20 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Ames
| Career stage | Ames | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,270$17.92 an hour | $36,730$17.66 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $38,300$18.42 an hour | $38,980$18.74 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $45,810$22.02 an hour | $45,480$21.87 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,100$23.13 an hour | $48,030$23.09 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $50,340$24.20 an hour | $54,960$26.42 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Ames area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Ames
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Ames area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Ames was $33,630 a year. By 2025 it had reached $45,810, a change of +36%, compared with +51% for Iowa over the same years.
How Ames compares with other Iowa cities
West Des Moines pays Medical Assistants the most in Iowa at $46,920 a year, $1,110 more than Ames. The lowest-paying area in the state is Iowa City at $43,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Ames | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $46,920 | $22.56 | +2% | 1,780 |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $46,480 | $22.35 | +1% | 510 |
| 3 | Ames | $45,810 | $22.02 | this city | 180 |
| 4 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $45,660 | $21.95 | 0% | 390 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $45,650 | $21.95 | 0% | 280 |
| 6 | Dubuque | $44,730 | $21.51 | -2% | 210 |
| 7 | Davenport | $44,700 | $21.49 | -2% | 840 |
| 8 | Iowa City | $43,550 | $20.94 | -5% | 480 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $45,480
Is Ames a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistant pay in Ames sits close to the national figure: $45,810 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Ames area, about 3.2 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.3. That makes Medical Assistants a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Ames, IA?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Ames earns $45,810 a year, or $22.02 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,270 and the top 10% earn over $50,340.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Ames?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Ames is $22.02. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.92, and the top 10% earn over $24.20 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Ames?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Ames typically offer around $17.92 an hour, or $37,270 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Ames higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Ames pay is 1% above the Iowa figure of $45,480 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. West Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $46,920.