How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in Ames, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Pharmacy Techs 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 Pharmacy Tech in Ames, Iowa earns $18.90 per hour, or $39,310 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,276 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,510, and the top 10% of earners make over $49,980.
That pay is 12% below the Iowa figure of $44,860 and 14% below the national figure of $45,750. Ames ranks 8th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Pharmacy Tech pay. About 140 Pharmacy Techs work in the Ames area.
Pharmacy Tech pay in Ames at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.90 an hour, or $39,310 a year.
- That is 12% below the Iowa figure, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,510; the top 10% make over $49,980.
- Typical pay rose +38% from 2015 to 2025, against +56% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in Ames?
Pay in Ames runs from entry-level positions at around $16.11 an hour to more than $24.03 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Pharmacy Tech pay by career stage in Ames
| Career stage | Ames | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $33,510$16.11 an hour | $36,140$17.38 an hour | $36,020$17.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,230$17.90 an hour | $37,790$18.17 an hour | $37,850$18.20 an hour |
| Typical Pharmacy Tech | $39,310$18.90 an hour | $44,860$21.57 an hour | $45,750$22.00 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,220$23.18 an hour | $48,670$23.40 an hour | $49,990$24.04 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,980$24.03 an hour | $52,150$25.07 an hour | $61,040$29.35 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Ames area as BLS defines it
Pharmacy Tech pay growth in Ames
Typical (median) annual wage for Pharmacy Techs in the Ames area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Pharmacy Tech pay in Ames was $28,580 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,310, a change of +38%, compared with +56% for Iowa over the same years.
How Ames compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Pharmacy Techs the most in Iowa at $46,620 a year, $7,310 more than Ames. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ames at $39,310.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Ames | Pharmacy Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $46,620 | $22.41 | +19% | 1,160 |
| 2 | Dubuque | $45,100 | $21.69 | +15% | 250 |
| 3 | Davenport | $45,080 | $21.67 | +15% | 550 |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $43,930 | $21.12 | +12% | 390 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $43,820 | $21.07 | +11% | 210 |
| 6 | Iowa City | $43,500 | $20.91 | +11% | 460 |
| 7 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $40,950 | $19.69 | +4% | 270 |
| 8 | Ames | $39,310 | $18.90 | this city | 140 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Pharmacy Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $44,860
Is Ames a good place to work as a Pharmacy Tech?
Pharmacy Techs in Ames earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,310 a year, 14% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Ames area, about 2.5 are Pharmacy Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.9. That makes Pharmacy Techs 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 Pharmacy Tech make in Ames, IA?
- A typical Pharmacy Tech in Ames earns $39,310 a year, or $18.90 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $33,510 and the top 10% earn over $49,980.
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make an hour in Ames?
- Typical hourly pay for Pharmacy Techs in Ames is $18.90. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.11, and the top 10% earn over $24.03 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Pharmacy Tech in Ames?
- Entry-level Pharmacy Tech positions in Ames typically offer around $16.11 an hour, or $33,510 a year.
- Is Pharmacy Tech pay in Ames higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Ames pay is 12% below the Iowa figure of $44,860 a year, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $46,620.