Office Clerks, General Salary in Ames, IA
Office Clerks, General in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median $45,450 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,624 take-home, or $3,135 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median office clerks, general salary in Ames, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,274
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,818
- Medicare (1.45%)$659
- Iowa income tax$1,075
- Take-home pay$37,624
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Office Clerks, General pay by experience in Ames, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,770 | $14.79 | $26,386 | $2,199 |
| 25th percentile | $37,280 | $17.92 | $31,370 | $2,614 |
| Median (50th) | $45,450 | $21.85 | $37,624 | $3,135 |
| 75th percentile | $51,350 | $24.69 | $42,140 | $3,512 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,820 | $30.20 | $50,921 | $4,243 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,450 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 office clerks, general's $37,624 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,355 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Office Clerks, General jobs are less concentrated in Ames, IA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for office clerks, general, adjusted for cost of living
Ames, IA ranks #18 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minot, ND | $50,160 | $42,484 | $48,816 |
| 2 | Grand Forks, ND | $48,570 | $41,206 | $47,547 |
| 3 | Bismarck, ND | $50,400 | $42,676 | $46,885 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $59,840 | $48,337 | $45,947 |
| 5 | Fargo, ND | $49,060 | $41,600 | $45,779 |
| 6 | Greeley, CO | $56,030 | $45,443 | $45,363 |
| 7 | Pueblo, CO | $50,670 | $41,372 | $45,086 |
| 8 | Fort Collins, CO | $55,960 | $45,390 | $44,884 |
| 18 | Ames, IA | $45,450 | $37,624 | $42,355 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Office Clerks, General salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Dubuque, IA — $44,980
- Sioux City, IA — $44,060
- Iowa City, IA — $46,480
- Des Moines, IA — $46,540
- Waterloo, IA — $43,980
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $44,780
- Davenport, IA — $42,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a office clerks, general make in Ames, IA?
The median office clerks, general salary in the Ames, IA metro area is $45,450 a year, or about $21.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,280 and $51,350.
What is a office clerks, general’s take-home pay in Ames, IA?
On the median $45,450 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $37,624 a year ($3,135 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,075 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Ames, IA a good place to work as a office clerks, general?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $45,010. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,355 would in a typical U.S. city. Ames, IA ranks #18 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a office clerks, general 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) — 31% of a median office clerks, general’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.