Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in El Centro, CA
Agricultural Equipment Operators in the El Centro, CA metro area earn a median of $37,200 a year ($17.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,240 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $41,730. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $38,820. There are 4.0 agricultural equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 21.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for agricultural equipment operators in El Centro, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,460 | $17.05 |
| 25th percentile | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Median | $37,200 | $17.88 |
| 75th percentile | $43,520 | $20.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,240 | $25.60 |
| Average (mean) | $42,510 | $20.44 |
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 | $3,100 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,550 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,430.77 |
| Weekly | $715.38 |
| Hourly | $17.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $47,880 | 590 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,960 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $44,260 | 280 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $44,230 | 220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $41,910 | 460 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,740 | 680 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,320 | 320 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $38,280 | 220 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,070 | 40 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,890 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,810 | 390 |
| Merced, CA | $37,570 | 200 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,420 | 210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $36,930 | 700 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,650 | 910 |
| Visalia, CA | $36,130 | 650 |
Highest-paying states for agricultural equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Montana | $58,770 |
| Louisiana | $58,520 |
| New York | $50,020 |
| Delaware | $49,910 |
| Massachusetts | $49,150 |
| Minnesota | $48,520 |
| North Dakota | $48,080 |
| South Dakota | $48,060 |
| Virginia | $47,890 |
| Iowa | $47,220 |
See Agricultural Equipment Operator pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Centro, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| Agricultural Inspector | $55,690 | $26.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $64,150 | $30.84 |
More: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations · all salaries in El Centro, CA
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 El Centro, CA?
The median salary for agricultural equipment operators in the El Centro, CA metro area is $37,200 a year, or $17.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid agricultural equipment operators make in El Centro, CA?
The top 10% of agricultural equipment operators in the El Centro, CA metro area earn at least $53,240 a year. The top 25% earn $43,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for agricultural equipment operators in El Centro, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,460 a year, and a quarter of agricultural equipment operators earn $36,520 or less.
How many agricultural equipment operators work in El Centro, CA?
About 260 agricultural equipment operators are employed in the El Centro, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.