NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in Ames, IA

Metro Market Score 26.3 (Favorable), ranked #7 of 298 metros. 304 establishments, 5,204 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 26.3
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national accommodation and food services average.

📈Rapid Growth✓Favorable Market

Ames ranks in the top 10% for accommodation and food services market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 26.3, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
43.6
LQ: 1.01
Rank #130 of 298 metros
Wage Competitiveness
7.0
$20,115 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 98.3
Employment growth index
Rank #6 of 298 metros
Wage Pressure
65.5
YoY wage change index

304 Accommodation and Food Services Firms in Ames

304
Establishments
+18.8% YoY
5,204
Total Employment
+14.3% YoY
$20,115
Average Annual Wage
+1.8% YoY
1.01
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Ames vs Iowa Statewide

How this metro's accommodation and food services market compares to Iowa overall. The state ranks #29/51 for entry risk.

Measure Ames IA Statewide
Overall Score 26.3 Favorable 39.0 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #7 of 298 metros #29 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Ames

Healthcare and Social Assistance 8.1 Finance and Insurance 24.0 Construction 25.8 Administrative and Support Services 27.4 Retail Trade 28.5 Other Services 31.0 Information 39.9 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 43.1 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 46.9

Accommodation and Food Services in Other Iowa Metros

Dubuque 24.7 #5/298 Waterloo-Cedar Falls 32.7 #22/298 Des Moines-West Des Moines 33.8 #25/298 Cedar Rapids 34.4 #28/298 Sioux City 42.9 #65/298 Iowa City 44.5 #80/298 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island 57.3 #167/298

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Ames's accommodation and food services sector, the wage pressure component (65.5) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.