California Median
$38,820
per year
Hourly Rate
$18.66
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $41,730
State Rank
#27 of 40
7,940 employed here
How much does an Agricultural Equipment Operator make in California?
Agricultural Equipment Operators in California take home a median of $38,820 annually — roughly $18.66 an hour — which runs 7% below the national median of $41,730.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $35,620 while the top 10% make $54,580 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $36,960 and $46,090 a year.
Agricultural Equipment Operator salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,620 | $17.13 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $36,960 | $17.77 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $38,820 | $18.66 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $46,090 | $22.16 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,580 | $26.24 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 27th out of 40 states and territories for Agricultural Equipment Operator pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in other states
Montana $58,770Louisiana $58,520New York $50,020Delaware $49,910Massachusetts $49,150Minnesota $48,520North Dakota $48,080South Dakota $48,060Virginia $47,890Iowa $47,220Ohio $47,220Pennsylvania $47,100Wisconsin $47,100Nebraska $46,670Maine $46,490Missouri $46,490Indiana $46,280Illinois $46,050Kansas $45,570Oregon $44,150Michigan $42,380Kentucky $42,000New Jersey $41,660Maryland $39,580North Carolina $39,580Idaho $38,920Washington $38,470Tennessee $37,750Colorado $37,290Florida $36,660Arizona $36,600Mississippi $36,460New Mexico $35,580Georgia $35,410Oklahoma $34,900South Carolina $34,490Texas $34,260Alabama $33,910Arkansas $32,060
Working as an Agricultural Equipment Operator in California
Nationally, about 29,000 people work as Agricultural Equipment Operators in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($38,820) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Agricultural Equipment Operator make in California?
The median Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in California is $38,820 per year, or about $18.66 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,620 at the entry level to $54,580 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Agricultural Equipment Operators about 7% less than the national median of $41,730. California ranks 27th out of 40 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Agricultural Equipment Operators?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $38,820 a year. About 7,940 Agricultural Equipment Operators are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Agricultural Equipment Operator salary report
Related salaries
$50,840
median pay · 2,000 employed
$52,100
median pay · 3,000 employed
$49,740
median pay · 21,000 employed
$35,730
median pay · 25,000 employed
$49,940
median pay · 14,000 employed
$36,670
median pay · 33,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.