Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary in Ames, IA
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $40,280 a year ($19.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 650 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,320 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $40,240. Pay here is 7% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $43,490. There are 12 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $42,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,050 | $14.93 |
| 25th percentile | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| Median | $40,280 | $19.36 |
| 75th percentile | $49,990 | $24.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,320 | $28.04 |
| Average (mean) | $42,070 | $20.23 |
Half of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,356.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,678.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,549.23 |
| Weekly | $774.62 |
| Hourly | $19.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $40,280 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $47,440 | 2,920 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $46,370 | 7,000 |
| Dubuque, IA | $45,960 | 980 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $43,300 | 2,730 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $42,980 | 4,370 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $42,790 | 1,660 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $42,550 | 6,870 |
| Iowa City, IA | $38,060 | 830 |
Highest-paying states for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $46,280 |
| Washington | $46,190 |
| District of Columbia | $45,740 |
| North Dakota | $45,690 |
| Colorado | $45,370 |
| Massachusetts | $44,920 |
| Oregon | $44,750 |
| California | $44,710 |
| New York | $44,630 |
| Wisconsin | $44,610 |
See Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,240 | $17.42 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,390 | $17.49 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $47,810 | $22.99 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,510 | $26.21 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $54,780 | $26.34 |
| Light Truck Driver | $40,050 | $19.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $58,270 | $28.02 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $31,670 | $15.23 |
| Parking Attendant | $31,070 | $14.94 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7062. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Ames, IA?
The median salary for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the Ames, IA metro area is $40,280 a year, or $19.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $58,320 a year. The top 25% earn $49,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,050 a year, and a quarter of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn $33,890 or less.
How many laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand work in Ames, IA?
About 650 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.