Accountant salary in Ames, IA
Accountants earn more in Ames than anywhere else in Iowa. Expect a median of $79,320 a year1, 2.4% above the Iowa statewide median of $77,440 and 5.2% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #150 of 521 areas. About 530 accountants work here, 4% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Ames, IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Ames against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | $52,370 | $79,320 | $126,450 | |
| Iowa | $51,420 | $77,440 | $123,700 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Ames earns $62,960–$98,100. The top tenth earns $126,450 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $35,140 wide, against $36,060 across Iowa and $42,790 nationally: employers in Ames pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,370 | $4,364 | $25.18 | $67,574 |
| 25th percentile | $62,960 | $5,247 | $30.27 | $81,239 |
| Median | $79,320 | $6,610 | $38.13 | $102,348 |
| 75th percentile | $98,100 | $8,175 | $47.16 | $126,581 |
| 90th percentile | $126,450 | $10,538 | $60.79 | $163,161 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $16,360 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $18,780, or about $24,232 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Ames, and the Iowa statewide median of $77,440 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Ames
At the $79,320 median, a local hire costs about $102,348 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $23,028 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Ames
Of the 16 roles we track in Ames, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($97,290); recruiters come next at $70,060.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +22.7% | 260 | |
| Accountant | this role | 530 | |
| Recruiter | -11.7% | 260 | |
| Office Manager | -16.3% | 280 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -20.3% | 220 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #7 of the 16 roles we track in Ames (-5.2%), between project coordinators (-4.9%) and bookkeepers (-5.3%). The typical role here is at -6.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 11.5% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Ames, 9.7% across Iowa and 9.2% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $70,190 in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area to $79,320 in Ames, a gap of $9,130 a year. All 8 areas in Iowa with more accountants than Ames pay less, among them Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($79,290) and Davenport-Moline, IA-IL ($77,600).
| Area | Median | vs Ames | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | this area | 530 | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | -0.0% | 4,850 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | -0.8% | 520 | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -2.2% | 1,560 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -2.7% | 1,190 | |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -3.5% | 940 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -3.5% | 680 |
Ames against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Ames is #333 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Iowa, Charleston-North Charleston and Visalia pay just above Ames and Indianapolis-Carmel and Rapid City just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Ames. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Ames | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visalia, CA | +0.1% | 870 | pay | |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | +0.0% | 2,600 | pay | |
| Ames, IA | this area | 530 | ||
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | -0.0% | 11,210 | pay | |
| Rapid City, SD | -0.1% | 840 | pay | |
| Wausau, WI | -2.1% | 530 | jobs | |
| Decatur, AL | -9.2% | 530 | jobs | |
| St. George, UT | -11.1% | 530 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Ames, IA?
About $102,348 a year at the median, or $8,529 a month: $79,320 in pay plus about $23,028 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Ames?
The median was $79,320 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $52,370, the 90th $126,450, and the middle half earned $62,960 to $98,100.
Is Ames the most expensive area in Iowa for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $79,320 is the highest of 12 areas in Iowa. Des Moines-West Des Moines comes next at $79,290.
How many accountants work in Ames?
BLS counts about 530 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Iowa total of 13,210. 8 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is Waterloo-Cedar Falls, with about 540.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Ames?
Yes: $9,260 a year more at the median. The medians are $79,320 and $70,060.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.