Highest-paying jobs in Ames for high school graduates

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#50. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $50,960
- Median hourly wage: $24.50
- Total employment: 70 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $51,010
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.53
- Total employment: 90 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $51,220
- Median hourly wage: $24.63
- Total employment: 80 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $51,730
- Median hourly wage: $24.87
- Total employment: 70 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $52,020
- Median hourly wage: $25.01
- Total employment: 210 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $52,370
- Median hourly wage: $25.18
- Total employment: 660 people (11.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $52,750
- Median hourly wage: $25.36
- Total employment: 80 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $53,530
- Median hourly wage: $25.73
- Total employment: 90 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $55,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $56,230
- Median hourly wage: $27.04
- Total employment: 90 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $56,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.10
- Total employment: 170 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $56,480
- Median hourly wage: $27.16
- Total employment: 160 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $56,500
- Median hourly wage: $27.16
- Total employment: 90 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $56,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $56,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 70 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $57,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.49
- Total employment: 250 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 130 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $58,080
- Median hourly wage: $27.93
- Total employment: 110 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 140 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $59,540
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 70 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 220 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $60,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- Total employment: 130 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 80 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 80 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 110 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $60,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 310 people (5.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $61,540
- Median hourly wage: $29.59
- Total employment: 220 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,670
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 80 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 60 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 160 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $62,870
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 210 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $63,240
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $63,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.71
- Total employment: 90 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 220 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $67,220
- Median hourly wage: $32.32
- Total employment: 310 people (5.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $70,060
- Median hourly wage: $33.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $72,730
- Median hourly wage: $34.97
- Total employment: 430 people (7.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $74,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Total employment: 120 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $75,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 150 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.49
- Total employment: 270 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $76,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.70
- Total employment: 180 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $76,740
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 60 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $91,220
- Median hourly wage: $43.86
- Total employment: 50 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $93,710
- Median hourly wage: $45.05
- Total employment: 70 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $99,700
- Median hourly wage: $47.93
- Total employment: 50 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $101,800
- Median hourly wage: $48.94
- Total employment: 60 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock