Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in the U.S.
Agricultural Equipment Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $41,730 a year ($20.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 28,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,650 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $43,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for agricultural equipment operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,500 | $16.11 |
| 25th percentile | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Median | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| 75th percentile | $48,100 | $23.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,650 | $28.20 |
| Average (mean) | $43,710 | $21.02 |
Half of agricultural equipment operators 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 | $3,477.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,738.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,605 |
| Weekly | $802.50 |
| Hourly | $20.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Agricultural Equipment Operator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | $58,770 | 130 |
| Louisiana | $58,520 | 270 |
| New York | $50,020 | n/a |
| Delaware | $49,910 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $49,150 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $48,520 | 900 |
| North Dakota | $48,080 | 430 |
| South Dakota | $48,060 | 240 |
| Virginia | $47,890 | 120 |
| Iowa | $47,220 | 1,530 |
| Ohio | $47,220 | 600 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,100 | 390 |
| Wisconsin | $47,100 | 830 |
| Nebraska | $46,670 | 1,090 |
| Maine | $46,490 | 60 |
| Missouri | $46,490 | 900 |
| Indiana | $46,280 | 810 |
| Illinois | $46,050 | 1,910 |
| Kansas | $45,570 | 670 |
| Oregon | $44,150 | 310 |
| Michigan | $42,380 | 460 |
| Kentucky | $42,000 | 190 |
| New Jersey | $41,660 | 70 |
| Maryland | $39,580 | 180 |
| North Carolina | $39,580 | 550 |
| Idaho | $38,920 | 490 |
| California | $38,820 | 7,940 |
| Washington | $38,470 | 550 |
| Tennessee | $37,750 | 390 |
| Colorado | $37,290 | n/a |
| Florida | $36,660 | 790 |
| Arizona | $36,600 | 730 |
| Mississippi | $36,460 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $35,580 | 130 |
| Georgia | $35,410 | 570 |
| Oklahoma | $34,900 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $34,490 | 380 |
| Texas | $34,260 | 2,200 |
| Alabama | $33,910 | 370 |
| Arkansas | $32,060 | 350 |
Best-paying metro areas for agricultural equipment operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $54,380 | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $53,680 | 180 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $52,100 | 30 |
| Columbus, OH | $51,050 | 50 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,990 | 50 |
| Dubuque, IA | $49,440 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | $49,410 | 110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,220 | 140 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $48,710 | 70 |
| Mankato, MN | $48,520 | 70 |
| Medford, OR | $48,510 | 40 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $48,330 | 40 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $48,250 | 30 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $48,010 | 120 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $47,900 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most agricultural equipment operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | 910 | $36,650 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 700 | $36,930 |
| Salinas, CA | 680 | $38,740 |
| Visalia, CA | 650 | $36,130 |
| Napa, CA | 590 | $47,880 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 460 | $41,910 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 390 | $37,810 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 360 | $47,080 |
| Modesto, CA | 320 | $38,320 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 300 | $45,960 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 280 | $44,260 |
| El Centro, CA | 260 | $37,200 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 220 | $38,280 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 220 | $44,230 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 210 | $37,420 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| Agricultural Inspector | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Animal Breeder | $51,130 | $24.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Logging Equipment Operator | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Faller | $52,100 | $25.05 |
| Log Graders and Scalers | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| Logging Workers, All Other | $50,840 | $24.44 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 45-2091. 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 agricultural equipment operator make in the U.S.?
The median salary for agricultural equipment operators in the U.S. is $41,730 a year, or $20.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid agricultural equipment operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of agricultural equipment operators in the U.S. earn at least $58,650 a year. The top 25% earn $48,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for agricultural equipment operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,500 a year, and a quarter of agricultural equipment operators earn $36,810 or less.
How many agricultural equipment operators work in the U.S.?
About 28,500 agricultural equipment operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.