Healthcare jobs and pay in Ames, IA
Ames healthcare pay by profession, from the BLS metro-area wage data, with cost of living, hospitals and what travel assignments pay here. Registered nurses earn a median of $35.06 per hour. The free report adds named employers and open roles.
What healthcare pays in Ames
| Profession | Median / hr | Typical range / hr | Median / year | Employed in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $35.06 | $33–$43 | $72,920 | 1,100 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $30.30 | $25–$32 | $63,020 | 170 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | $18.81 | $18–$22 | $39,110 | 760 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $60.85 | $53–$66 | $126,580 | 60 |
| CRNA | $110.56 | $105–$115+ | $229,950 | — |
| Radiologic Technologist | $30.94 | $26–$33 | $64,350 | 100 |
| CT Technologist | $30.94 | $26–$33 | $64,350 | 100 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $36.70 | $30–$39 | $76,340 | 30 |
| Surgical Technologist | $18.94 | $16–$25 | $39,400 | 40 |
| Physical Therapist | $41.56 | $36–$49 | $86,440 | 110 |
| Occupational Therapist | $39.23 | $34–$51 | $81,590 | 30 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $39.94 | $37–$45 | $83,070 | 40 |
| Medical Coder | $24.37 | $19–$28 | $50,700 | 70 |
| CDI Specialist | $34.61 | $27–$42 | $71,980 | — |
| Utilization Review Nurse | $35.06 | $33–$43 | $72,920 | 1,100 |
| Telehealth / Triage Nurse | $35.06 | $33–$43 | $72,920 | 1,100 |
| Patient Access Representative | $15.45 | $13–$18 | $32,140 | 170 |
| EHR / Epic Analyst | $44.28 | $38–$49 | $92,100 | 200 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | $36.43 | $30–$42 | $75,780 | 180 |
| Pharmacist | $63.66 | $57–$70 | $132,400 | 80 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $19.25 | $17–$22 | $40,030 | 160 |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | $25.25 | $22–$31 | $52,520 | 130 |
| Phlebotomist | $17.72 | $17–$20 | $36,850 | 60 |
| Nurse Informaticist | $35.06 | $33–$43 | $72,920 | 1,100 |
| Healthcare IT Support Specialist | $29.87 | $26–$38 | $62,130 | 360 |
| Biomedical Equipment Technician | $27.82 | $22–$37 | $57,860 | — |
| MRI Technologist | $36.70 | $34–$40 | $76,340 | — |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $40.33 | $37–$45 | $83,890 | — |
| Echocardiography Technologist | $33.10 | $22–$40 | $68,840 | — |
| Cath Lab Technologist | $33.10 | $22–$40 | $68,840 | — |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $40.19 | $39–$48 | $83,590 | — |
| Physician Assistant | $58.59 | $49–$62 | $121,870 | 30 |
| Nurse Case Manager | $35.06 | $33–$43 | $72,920 | 1,100 |
| Nurse Manager & Leadership | $48.01 | $39–$59 | $99,850 | 260 |
| Registered Dietitian | $33.12 | $29–$37 | $68,880 | — |
| Clinical Social Worker | $30.05 | $27–$34 | $62,500 | 30 |
| Medical Assistant | $21.55 | $19–$23 | $44,820 | 170 |
| Sterile Processing Technician | $19.08 | $18–$22 | $39,680 | — |
| Medical Biller | $21.11 | $19–$23 | $43,920 | 90 |
| Dentist | $84.13 | $59–$101 | $174,990 | — |
| Dental Hygienist | $38.34 | $38–$40 | $79,740 | 70 |
| Dental Assistant | $22.85 | $22–$25 | $47,530 | 130 |
| Dental Office Manager | $48.01 | $39–$59 | $99,850 | 260 |
| Dental Front Office & Treatment Coordinator | $18.73 | $17–$20 | $38,950 | 420 |
| Dental Lab Technician | $23.34 | $21–$29 | $48,560 | — |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, for the Ames metro area (statewide where the metro figure is not published). Pick a profession for the full pay breakdown, rankings and open roles.
Cost of living in Ames
- Overall prices in Ames run 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8).
- Housing runs 31% below the U.S. average (index 69.2).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Travel assignment per diem in Ames
The federal per diem benchmark for travel assignments in Ames is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on your tax home. See the travel pay calculator.
Hospitals in Ames
CMS lists 1 hospital in Ames.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Greeley Medical Center | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Cities near Ames
| City | Distance | RN median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 20 mi | $37.97/hr | 76,727 |
| Des Moines, IA | 31 mi | $37.97/hr | 213,096 |
| West Des Moines, IA | 34 mi | $37.97/hr | 73,664 |
| Waterloo, IA | 72 mi | $33.50/hr | 67,477 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 100 mi | $36.81/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 111 mi | $39.87/hr | 76,710 |
Common questions
How much do healthcare workers make in Ames?
Registered nurses in the Ames metro area earn a median of $35.06 per hour, about $72,920 a year (BLS, May 2024). The table above lists 45 professions with their own medians and ranges.
How many hospitals are in Ames?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Ames, Iowa.
Does Valorem Health place staff in Ames?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Ames and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Ames.
What do employers near Ames pay? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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Your RN pay reportAmes, IA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Veterans Health AdministrationDes Moines, IA · 6 postings$49.44/ hr$34–$67
- Select MedicalDes Moines, IA · 4 postings$44.80/ hr$37–$53
- CommonSpirit HealthCOUNCIL BLUFFS, IA · 3 postings$44.10/ hr$30–$52
- Acadia HealthcareCouncil Bluffs, IA · 2 postings$39.84/ hr$34–$46
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
19 RN postings with published pay in Iowa, 15 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 19 RN roles
- Registered Nurse- Community Living Center Admission CoordinatorPermanent$75k–$139k/ year
- Admissions Registered NursePermanent$34.00–$45.69/ hour
+ 17 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.