Pay rates 50501
Executive summary
Available data on "pay rates" for ZIP code 50501 (Fort Dodge, IA) does not produce a single official hourly scale but paints a consistent income picture: median household income around $66,130 and average worker earnings roughly $36,934, with per‑capita income near $34,014 — figures reported by multiple ZIP‑level aggregators drawing on Census and business census data [1] [2] [3]. Sources diverge on some estimates (one site lists a lower median household income), so conclusions should be read as ranges rather than a single authoritative rate [4].
1. What the headline income numbers say about pay in 50501
The most commonly cited measures for 50501 show a median household income of $66,130 and average worker earnings of $36,934, implying typical annual worker pay in the mid‑$30k range and household resources above $60k per year [1]. Per‑capita income is reported at $34,014 by a Census‑derived ZIP income aggregation, which aligns with the average worker figure and suggests most workers earn in the low‑to‑mid tens of thousands annually rather than high six‑figure wages [2]. One data aggregator, using older ACS inputs, reports a notably lower median household income ($54,675), underscoring differences in vintage and methodology across private sites [4].
2. How pay compares regionally and what that implies
50501’s per‑capita and household income sit below several nearby ZIPs and some county peers — for example, other Webster County ZIPs and neighboring communities report higher per‑capita and median household incomes, according to the income comparison site that lists numerous ZIPs with higher figures [2]. At the same time, 50501’s unemployment rate (4.1%) is reported as lower than the national average in one data compilation, which can compress wage growth even when employment looks healthy [3]. These mixed signals suggest moderate wages combined with a relatively stable job market rather than a high‑wage boomtown dynamic [3] [2].
3. Employer payroll and job structure — the business census view
A Business Census summary cited on a ZIP‑specific site reports 828 business establishments in 50501 employing about 15,301 people with an annual payroll of $745,138,000, a figure that provides an aggregate payroll baseline but does not break down hourly rates or occupational wage tiers [3]. The largest occupational group in the ZIP is Management at 28.7%, indicating a nontrivial share of salaried positions, yet average and median wage measures remain modest — reflecting a mix of management, service, manufacturing and public‑sector roles in local employment [3].
4. Cost of living, housing and how they affect real pay
Median home value and typical housing costs in 50501 are substantially below national averages — median home value around $139,700 and median rent near $779 — which boosts real purchasing power for the incomes reported and is reflected in a reported cost‑of‑living index well under the U.S. average on at least one local profile [5] [1] [6]. Median monthly owner costs with a mortgage and poverty estimates cited by local data aggregators further contextualize how far average earnings go for households in the ZIP, but those figures come from different compilations and dates so should be cross‑checked for current budgeting [6] [1].
5. Federal pay scales and locality adjustments — limited direct relevance
Federal General Schedule locality pay is determined by broader locality areas rather than ZIP codes; there are 53 General Schedule locality areas that adjust federal wages for regional cost differences, but mapping a single ZIP like 50501 to a specific federal locality and rate requires consulting OPM/GSA locality tables rather than ZIP‑level sites [7]. Therefore, federal employee pay in or near 50501 will be set by whatever locality area includes Fort Dodge and is not directly summarized by the ZIP‑level income aggregators cited here [7].
6. Bottom line, uncertainties and where to go next
Census‑derived aggregators and business census snapshots converge on a profile of 50501 as a moderate‑income ZIP: typical worker earnings in the mid‑$30k range, median household income around $66k, and per‑capita income near $34k, tempered by at least one outlier source reporting a lower median and by differing data vintages and methodologies across sites [1] [2] [3] [4]. These figures are useful for approximating local pay scales but do not substitute for employer‑level wage data or current Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage tables; for job‑specific hourly rates, local job postings, company disclosures or BLS/OES regional wage reports are the next logical step — sources not directly available in the provided data.