General and Operations Manager Salary in Ames, IA
General and Operations Managers in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median $97,700 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,501 take-home, or $6,208 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median general and operations manager salary in Ames, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,664
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,057
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,417
- Iowa income tax$3,061
- Take-home pay$74,501
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.80% state
General and Operations Manager pay by experience in Ames, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,680 | $21.00 | $36,269 | $3,022 |
| 25th percentile | $62,510 | $30.05 | $50,683 | $4,224 |
| Median (50th) | $97,700 | $46.97 | $74,501 | $6,208 |
| 75th percentile | $143,840 | $69.15 | $104,767 | $8,731 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $200,000 | $96.15 | $141,979 | $11,832 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $97,700 buys in Ames, IA
Prices in Ames, IA are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median general and operations manager's $74,501 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,869 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
General and Operations Manager jobs are about as common in Ames, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for general and operations managers, adjusted for cost of living
Ames, IA ranks #101 of 380 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | $181,450 | $125,919 | $122,038 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls, SD | $142,730 | $108,822 | $120,071 |
| 3 | Rapid City, SD | $130,410 | $100,401 | $112,608 |
| 4 | Midland, TX | $132,420 | $101,775 | $106,256 |
| 5 | Huntsville, AL | $136,340 | $97,902 | $105,190 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $152,100 | $109,242 | $103,841 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $148,080 | $105,744 | $102,918 |
| 8 | Elkhart, IN | $122,070 | $91,129 | $100,890 |
| 101 | Ames, IA | $97,700 | $74,501 | $83,869 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 380 metros →
General and Operations Manager salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Des Moines, IA — $98,780
- Dubuque, IA — $92,530
- Sioux City, IA — $90,230
- Davenport, IA — $91,140
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $90,620
- Waterloo, IA — $82,400
- Iowa City, IA — $81,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a general and operations manager make in Ames, IA?
The median general and operations manager salary in the Ames, IA metro area is $97,700 a year, or about $46.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,510 and $143,840.
What is a general and operations manager’s take-home pay in Ames, IA?
On the median $97,700 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $74,501 a year ($6,208 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,061 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Ames, IA a good place to work as a general and operations manager?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $105,770. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,869 would in a typical U.S. city. Ames, IA ranks #101 of 380 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a general and operations manager afford rent in Ames, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ames, IA is $975 a month ($1,126 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median general and operations manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.