How Much Does an MLT Make in Ames, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs 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 MLT in Ames, Iowa earns $27.10 per hour, or $56,380 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,698 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,070, and the top 10% of earners make over $75,130.
That pay is 4% above the Iowa figure of $54,260 and 10% below the national figure of $62,930. Ames ranks 2nd of 8 metro areas in Iowa for MLT pay. About 110 MLTs work in the Ames area.
MLT pay in Ames at a glance
- Typical pay is $27.10 an hour, or $56,380 a year.
- That is 4% above the Iowa figure, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,070; the top 10% make over $75,130.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Ames?
Pay in Ames runs from entry-level positions at around $18.78 an hour to more than $36.12 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Ames
| Career stage | Ames | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,070$18.78 an hour | $38,790$18.65 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $45,360$21.81 an hour | $43,210$20.77 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $56,380$27.10 an hour | $54,260$26.09 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $65,830$31.65 an hour | $65,810$31.64 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $75,130$36.12 an hour | $79,660$38.30 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Ames area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Ames
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Ames area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Ames was $49,160 a year. By 2025 it had reached $56,380.
How Ames compares with other Iowa cities
Cedar Rapids pays MLTs the most in Iowa at $62,560 a year, $6,180 more than Ames. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux City at $47,360.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Ames | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | $62,560 | $30.08 | +11% | 270 |
| 2 | Ames | $56,380 | $27.10 | this city | 110 |
| 3 | Dubuque | $55,680 | $26.77 | -1% | 100 |
| 4 | Iowa City | $52,140 | $25.07 | -8% | 420 |
| 5 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $50,240 | $24.16 | -11% | 700 |
| 6 | Waterloo metro incl. Cedar Falls | $47,800 | $22.98 | -15% | 200 |
| 7 | Davenport | $47,770 | $22.97 | -15% | 400 |
| 8 | Sioux City | $47,360 | $22.77 | -16% | 200 |
Every metro area in Iowa with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $54,260
Is Ames a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Ames earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $56,380 a year, 10% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Ames area, about 2.0 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.2. MLT jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in Ames, IA?
- A typical MLT in Ames earns $56,380 a year, or $27.10 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,070 and the top 10% earn over $75,130.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Ames?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Ames is $27.10. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.78, and the top 10% earn over $36.12 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Ames?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Ames typically offer around $18.78 an hour, or $39,070 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Ames higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Ames pay is 4% above the Iowa figure of $54,260 a year, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state. Cedar Rapids pays the most in Iowa at $62,560.