How Much Does a Rad Tech Make in Ames, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Rad 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 Rad Tech in Ames, Iowa earns $32.09 per hour, or $66,760 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,563 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $50,260, and the top 10% of earners make over $82,530.
That pay is 1% above the Iowa figure of $65,930 and 17% below the national figure of $80,110. Ames ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Rad Tech pay. About 90 Rad Techs work in the Ames area.
Rad Tech pay in Ames at a glance
- Typical pay is $32.09 an hour, or $66,760 a year.
- That is 1% above the Iowa figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $50,260; the top 10% make over $82,530.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Rad Tech make in Ames?
Pay in Ames runs from entry-level positions at around $24.16 an hour to more than $39.68 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Rad Tech pay by career stage in Ames
| Career stage | Ames | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $50,260$24.16 an hour | $54,360$26.14 an hour | $55,980$26.91 an hour |
| First years | $55,080$26.48 an hour | $61,730$29.68 an hour | $64,810$31.16 an hour |
| Typical Rad Tech | $66,760$32.09 an hour | $65,930$31.70 an hour | $80,110$38.52 an hour |
| Experienced | $67,990$32.69 an hour | $79,390$38.17 an hour | $98,750$47.47 an hour |
| Top 10% | $82,530$39.68 an hour | $86,520$41.59 an hour | $118,660$57.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Ames area as BLS defines it
Rad Tech pay growth in Ames
Typical (median) annual wage for Rad Techs in the Ames area · BLS OES May estimates, 2019 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2019, typical Rad Tech pay in Ames was $49,450 a year. By 2025 it had reached $66,760.
How Ames compares with other Iowa cities
Dubuque pays Rad Techs the most in Iowa at $74,530 a year, $7,770 more than Ames. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux City at $64,260.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Ames | Rad Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubuque | $74,530 | $35.83 | +12% | 100 |
| 2 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $67,640 | $32.52 | +1% | 560 |
| 3 | Ames | $66,760 | $32.09 | this city | 90 |
| 4 | Iowa City | $65,820 | $31.65 | -1% | 240 |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids | $64,880 | $31.19 | -3% | 230 |
| 6 | Davenport | $64,580 | $31.05 | -3% | 280 |
| 7 | Waterloo metro incl. Cedar Falls | $64,370 | $30.95 | -4% | 150 |
| 8 | Sioux City | $64,260 | $30.90 | -4% | 150 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Rad Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $65,930
Is Ames a good place to work as a Rad Tech?
Rad Techs in Ames earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $66,760 a year, 17% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Ames area, about 1.6 are Rad Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. Rad Tech jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Rad Tech make in Ames, IA?
- A typical Rad Tech in Ames earns $66,760 a year, or $32.09 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $50,260 and the top 10% earn over $82,530.
- How much does a Rad Tech make an hour in Ames?
- Typical hourly pay for Rad Techs in Ames is $32.09. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $24.16, and the top 10% earn over $39.68 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Rad Tech in Ames?
- Entry-level Rad Tech positions in Ames typically offer around $24.16 an hour, or $50,260 a year.
- Is Rad Tech pay in Ames higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Ames pay is 1% above the Iowa figure of $65,930 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Dubuque pays the most in Iowa at $74,530.