How much does an Agricultural Equipment Operator make?
An Agricultural Equipment Operator earns a median annual salary of $41,730 in the United States, which works out to roughly $20.06 per hour for full-time work. Most Agricultural Equipment Operators earn between $33,500 at the entry level and $58,650 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $36,810 and $48,100 a year.
That is $19,660 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Agricultural Equipment Operator salary range by percentile
Half of all Agricultural Equipment Operators earn between $36,810 and $48,100 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,500 | $16.11 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $36,810 | $17.70 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $41,730 | $20.06 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $48,100 | $23.13 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,650 | $28.20 |
Highest-paying states for Agricultural Equipment Operator
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Montana leads the country for Agricultural Equipment Operator pay at $58,770 a year, followed by Louisiana ($58,520) and New York ($50,020). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $32,060 — a gap of $26,710 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $58,770 | $28.25 | +41% |
| 2 | Louisiana | $58,520 | $28.13 | +40% |
| 3 | New York | $50,020 | $24.05 | +20% |
| 4 | Delaware | $49,910 | $24.00 | +20% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $49,150 | $23.63 | +18% |
Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 40 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 29,000 people work as Agricultural Equipment Operators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $43,710 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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