Prevailing Wage · 2025-26
H1B Prevailing Wage in Ames, IA
The U.S. Department of Labor sets four prevailing wage levels for every occupation in each wage area. These are the legal minimum H1B salaries in Ames, IA across 70 occupations, from entry (Level I) to senior (Level IV), covering 2 counties.
For example, the H1B prevailing wage for Software Developers in Ames, IA is $84,011 at Level I (entry), rising to $144,456 at Level IV (senior), for the 2025-26 wage year.
Counties in this wage area
2 countiesEvery county below uses the Ames, IA prevailing wage shown on this page.
Boone County, IAStory County, IA
| Occupation | Level IEntry | Level IIQualified | Level IIIExperienced | Level IVSenior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $84,011 | $104,166 | $124,301 | $144,456 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $64,854 | $81,723 | $98,613 | $115,482 |
| Data Scientists | $58,531 | $74,194 | $89,877 | $105,539 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $99,840 | $120,557 | $141,274 | $161,990 |
| Computer Programmers | $61,797 | $73,237 | $84,656 | $96,096 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $71,552 | $82,472 | $93,392 | $104,312 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $74,693 | $88,067 | $101,442 | $114,816 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $73,632 | $84,386 | $95,118 | $105,872 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $55,578 | $68,370 | $81,182 | $93,974 |
| Electrical Engineers | $78,458 | $97,406 | $116,355 | $135,304 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $74,069 | $99,674 | $125,258 | $150,862 |
| Management Analysts | $56,763 | $72,696 | $88,629 | $104,562 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $63,253 | $79,685 | $96,096 | $112,528 |
| Industrial Engineers | $77,563 | $91,270 | $104,998 | $118,706 |
| Civil Engineers | $70,242 | $84,011 | $97,760 | $111,530 |
| Project Management Specialists | $51,646 | $69,867 | $88,109 | $106,330 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $41,038 | $55,037 | $69,014 | $83,013 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $42,307 | $48,922 | $55,557 | $62,171 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $120,286 | $133,640 | $147,014 | $160,368 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $90,750,400 | $106,481,440 | $122,214,560 | $137,945,600 |
| Computer Network Architects | $68,515 | $82,264 | $95,992 | $109,741 |
| Statisticians | $98,155 | $116,875 | $135,574 | $154,294 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $94,494,400 | $110,780,800 | $127,067,200 | $143,353,600 |
| Lawyers | $68,806 | $100,277 | $131,768 | $163,238 |
| Marketing Managers | $87,360 | $114,712 | $142,064 | $169,416 |
| Chemists | $64,418 | $78,541 | $92,685 | $106,808 |
| Physical Therapists | $66,248 | $76,752 | $87,256 | $97,760 |
| Financial Managers | $76,378 | $103,085 | $129,813 | $156,520 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $59,259 | $82,243 | $105,206 | $128,190 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $63,003 | $74,880 | $86,757 | $98,634 |
| Construction Managers | $65,915 | $81,182 | $96,429 | $111,696 |
| Logisticians | $59,821 | $75,005 | $90,168 | $105,352 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $90,896,000 | $106,697,760 | $122,497,440 | $138,299,200 |
| Registered Nurses | $64,002 | $70,346 | $76,669 | $83,013 |
| Biological Technicians | $38,376 | $46,758 | $55,120 | $63,502 |
| Graphic Designers | $40,352 | $47,466 | $54,579 | $61,693 |
| General and Operations Managers | $43,285 | $72,550 | $101,816 | $131,082 |
| Occupational Therapists | $68,307 | $78,042 | $87,797 | $97,531 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $81,203 | $101,171 | $121,139 | $141,107 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $158,288 | $224,286 | $290,264 | $356,262 |
| Web Developers | $60,923 | $70,886 | $80,850 | $90,813 |
| Cost Estimators | $52,811 | $66,290 | $79,768 | $93,246 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $49,816 | $62,899 | $75,982 | $89,066 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $93,142 | $117,915 | $142,688 | $167,461 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $50,918 | $63,045 | $75,150 | $87,277 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $58,219 | $67,538 | $76,877 | $86,195 |
| Mental Health Counselors | $45,240 | $62,317 | $79,373 | $96,450 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $97,427,200 | $112,944,000 | $128,460,800 | $143,977,600 |
| Pharmacists | $106,330 | $118,539 | $130,770 | $142,979 |
| Sales Managers | $87,235 | $120,078 | $152,901 | $185,744 |
| Microbiologists | $75,816 | $92,955 | $110,074 | $127,213 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $72,550 | $89,752 | $106,974 | $124,176 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $46,696 | $51,002 | $55,328 | $59,634 |
| Chief Executives | $62,338 | $128,294 | $194,251 | $260,208 |
| Purchasing Managers | $85,675 | $107,869 | $130,042 | $152,235 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $52,541 | $60,611 | $68,682 | $76,752 |
| Veterinarians | $77,168 | $97,490 | $117,790 | $138,112 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $45,718 | $55,806 | $65,874 | $75,962 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $45,988,800 | $65,505,440 | $85,024,160 | $104,540,800 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $69,326 | $77,792 | $86,278 | $94,744 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $91,000,000 | $106,718,560 | $122,435,040 | $138,153,600 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $44,533 | $56,077 | $67,600 | $79,144 |
| Budget Analysts | $62,816 | $72,488 | $82,181 | $91,853 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $67,787 | $84,011 | $100,214 | $116,438 |
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | $51,584 | $62,587 | $73,590 | $84,594 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $53,227 | $63,773 | $74,298 | $84,843 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $48,006 | $57,179 | $66,352 | $75,525 |
| Compliance Officers | $55,848 | $66,435 | $77,002 | $87,589 |
| Human Resources Managers | $84,490 | $108,992 | $133,474 | $157,976 |
| Engineers, All Other | $77,688 | $89,877 | $102,066 | $114,254 |
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Prevailing wages are published by the U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC for the 2025-26 wage year, based on BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the Ames, IA area. Hourly rates are annualized at 2,080 hours. These are the legal minimum an employer must pay; actual offers are often higher.