The average Story County hourly wage is above average, compared to its six surrounding counties, and economic experts say the university has something to do with it.

According to the Iowa Workforce Development, Employment Statistics Bureau, in the second quarter of 2004 the average weekly wage for Story County was $608, higher than Boone, Hamilton, Hardin and Marshall counties, lower only than Polk and Jasper counties.

David Maahs, Ames executive director of economic development, said Story County offers competitive wages compared to its surrounding counties.

He added that the university draws in new businesses.

Maahs said businesses take county wage averages into consideration when looking to relocate or expand, and they look at the marketplace to consider whether they plan to offer wages that are comparable, higher or lower than average.

He said Story County and the Ames community benefit from the highly educated community, in part due to the presence of the university.

“That’s something we sell and the state of Iowa sells as well to recruit business here,” Maahs said.

Students often work part time or as interns at local businesses, and if the company is pleased with the student while he or she is working part time, the business may offer that person a full-time position after graduation, he said.

Matthew Anderson, economic development coordinator for the Des Moines Office of Economic Development, disagreed and said businesses aren’t looking at county average wages when deciding where to locate.

“A lot of bigger manufacturing companies are looking state to state rather than county to county,” he said.

“There isn’t really enough of a wage disparity around Iowa to make that much of a difference.”

According to the Iowa Department of Economic Development, there is a difference. Story County’s average wage is $12.67, while Polk County’s is $18.07 per hour.

Tina Hoffman, director of communications for the Iowa Department of Economic Development, said the department uses regional average wages to help level the playing field for financial assistance to businesses.

The regional average is determined using a formula that weighs the selected county against its surrounding counterparts.

For example, Story County would be given more weight compared to Hamilton, Hardin, Boone, Marshall, Polk and Jasper counties in order to determine the comparative wage for Story County.

Hoffman said having large cities like Des Moines in neighboring counties is the reason the Iowa Department of Economic Development uses regional averages.

Taking any major metropolitan areas nearby into account makes the averages more fair.

She said the Iowa Department of Economic Development does not give assistance to any public companies.

Therefore, she said the salaries of all ISU employees would not be included in the wage averages they use to determine financial assistance.