How much do Data Scientists make in Ames, IA?

Percentile spread

For Data Scientists, the published 10th percentile is $61,280 and the 90th percentile is $135,260. The difference is $73,980, which is 93.1% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $64,520 to the 75th at $111,540, covers $47,020.

The mean annual wage is $88,980, which sits above the median of $79,430. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Ames, IA median is 33.9% lower than the national median of $120,230 for Data Scientists. In 2024 national prices the local median is $89,418, which is 25.6% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 17.1% lower than the Iowa median of $95,830.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Ames, IA is 88.830, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $79,430 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Data Scientists at $89,418 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

11 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Data Scientists. Ames, IA ranks 10th of 12 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

• Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 32 miles away, with a median of $103,030 and employment of 1,240. That median is 29.7% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $112,354, against $89,418 here.
• Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is 72 miles away, with a median of $82,050 and employment of 70. That median is 3.3% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $94,249, against $89,418 here.
• Cedar Rapids, IA is 106 miles away, with a median of $99,410 and employment of 180. That median is 25.2% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $111,743, against $89,418 here.

Employment share

Data Scientists accounts for 0.18% of wage-and-salary employment in Ames, IA (100 of 55,890). Nationally the occupation is 0.17% of employment (262,440 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.06 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.