Jobs & Economy in Ames
Ames's economy runs overwhelmingly on Iowa State University, real, genuinely the city's single largest employer by a wide margin.
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Learn moreA real, dominant university employer
Iowa State University employs approximately 14,765-15,000 people in Ames -- a workforce genuinely larger than any other single employer in the city.
A real, federal research anchor
Ames National Laboratory, a real, current U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory operated under contract by Iowa State University, employs approximately 450 people, a genuine federal research presence distinct from the university itself.
Other real, cited employers
Mary Greeley Medical Center (~1,400), the City of Ames (~1,100), Hy-Vee (~725 across two stores), and Danfoss (~650) round out Ames's other real, cited major employers.
Key takeaways
- Iowa State University is genuinely Ames's single largest employer by a wide margin (~14,765-15,000).
- Ames National Laboratory adds a real, federal DOE research presence (~450 employees).
- Mary Greeley Medical Center, the City of Ames, Hy-Vee, and Danfoss round out the city's other major employers.
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