Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary in Ames, IA
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median $30,420 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,118 take-home, or $2,177 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in Ames, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,470
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,886
- Medicare (1.45%)$441
- Iowa income tax$504
- Take-home pay$26,118
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay by experience in Ames, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,500 | $10.82 | $19,936 | $1,661 |
| 25th percentile | $27,830 | $13.38 | $24,122 | $2,010 |
| Median (50th) | $30,420 | $14.63 | $26,118 | $2,177 |
| 75th percentile | $34,670 | $16.67 | $29,372 | $2,448 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,500 | $17.55 | $30,773 | $2,564 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,420 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary's $26,118 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,403 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ames, IA has 1.5× the national concentration of teaching assistants, except postsecondary jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for teaching assistants, except postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Ames, IA ranks #205 of 337 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon, WA | $57,950 | $48,743 | $47,580 |
| 2 | Decatur, IL | $48,480 | $38,879 | $43,969 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $51,670 | $43,697 | $42,287 |
| 4 | Yakima, WA | $47,380 | $40,250 | $42,127 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $51,350 | $43,440 | $41,902 |
| 6 | Pueblo, CO | $46,280 | $38,038 | $41,453 |
| 7 | Bismarck, ND | $44,110 | $37,622 | $41,332 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $53,950 | $45,529 | $40,968 |
| 205 | Ames, IA | $30,420 | $26,118 | $29,403 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 337 metros →
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Davenport, IA — $34,530
- Des Moines, IA — $34,620
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $32,890
- Sioux City, IA — $30,880
- Dubuque, IA — $30,410
- Waterloo, IA — $29,900
- Iowa City, IA — $30,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in Ames, IA?
The median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in the Ames, IA metro area is $30,420 a year, or about $14.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,830 and $34,670.
What is a teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s take-home pay in Ames, IA?
On the median $30,420 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $26,118 a year ($2,177 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $504 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Ames, IA a good place to work as a teaching assistants, except postsecondary?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $36,780. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,403 would in a typical U.S. city. Ames, IA ranks #205 of 337 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teaching assistants, except postsecondary 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) — 45% of a median teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.