Agricultural Equipment Operators Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for agricultural equipment operatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $43,710 ≈ $21/hr
National median salary $41,730
Total employment 28,500 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +7.7%
Faster than average
Annual openings 10,500 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 65,200 → 70,300 (+5,000)
Typical entry education No formal educational credential
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$34,330
- Alabama$34,640
- Texas$35,300
- Arkansas$35,530
- South Carolina$35,760
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $54,400 | $58,770 | $26 | +24.5% | 130 |
| 2 | New York | $51,740 | $50,020 | $25 | +18.4% | — |
| 3 | Delaware | $51,150 | $49,910 | $25 | +17% | 40 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $51,050 | $58,520 | $25 | +16.8% | 270 |
| 5 | Missouri | $50,440 | $46,490 | $24 | +15.4% | 900 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $50,340 | $48,080 | $24 | +15.2% | 430 |
| 7 | Ohio | $50,070 | $47,220 | $24 | +14.6% | 600 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $49,530 | $48,520 | $24 | +13.3% | 900 |
| 9 | Iowa | $49,480 | $47,220 | $24 | +13.2% | 1,530 |
| 10 | Virginia | $49,420 | $47,890 | $24 | +13.1% | 120 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $49,070 | $46,670 | $24 | +12.3% | 1,090 |
| 12 | Maine | $48,820 | $46,490 | $23 | +11.7% | 60 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $48,050 | $42,000 | $23 | +9.9% | 190 |
| 14 | Indiana | $47,980 | $46,280 | $23 | +9.8% | 810 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $47,940 | $47,100 | $23 | +9.7% | 830 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $47,670 | $49,150 | $23 | +9.1% | 40 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $47,470 | $48,060 | $23 | +8.6% | 240 |
| 18 | Illinois | $47,230 | $46,050 | $23 | +8.1% | 1,910 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $46,900 | $47,100 | $23 | +7.3% | 390 |
| 20 | Kansas | $45,620 | $45,570 | $22 | +4.4% | 670 |
| 21 | Oregon | $45,070 | $44,150 | $22 | +3.1% | 310 |
| 22 | Washington | $43,770 | $38,470 | $21 | +0.1% | 550 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $43,390 | $41,660 | $21 | -0.7% | 70 |
| 24 | Maryland | $43,180 | $39,580 | $21 | -1.2% | 180 |
| 25 | Colorado | $42,840 | $37,290 | $21 | -2% | — |
| 26 | California | $42,730 | $38,820 | $21 | -2.2% | 7,940 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $41,970 | $34,900 | $20 | -4% | 170 |
| 28 | Michigan | $41,670 | $42,380 | $20 | -4.7% | 460 |
| 29 | Florida | $40,900 | $36,660 | $20 | -6.4% | 790 |
| 30 | Idaho | $39,930 | $38,920 | $19 | -8.6% | 490 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $39,410 | $39,580 | $19 | -9.8% | 550 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $38,600 | $37,750 | $19 | -11.7% | 390 |
| 33 | Georgia | $37,390 | $35,410 | $18 | -14.5% | 570 |
| 34 | Arizona | $37,160 | $36,600 | $18 | -15% | 730 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $36,450 | $35,580 | $18 | -16.6% | 130 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $35,760 | $34,490 | $17 | -18.2% | 380 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $35,530 | $32,060 | $17 | -18.7% | 350 |
| 38 | Texas | $35,300 | $34,260 | $17 | -19.2% | 2,200 |
| 39 | Alabama | $34,640 | $33,910 | $17 | -20.8% | 370 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $34,330 | $36,460 | $17 | -21.5% | 280 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 140 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $61,190 | $55,070 | 40 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $54,380 | $54,160 | 50 |
| 3 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $53,680 | $53,350 | 180 |
| 4 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $52,270 | $53,640 | 70 |
| 5 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $52,100 | $51,310 | 30 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $51,050 | $52,240 | 50 |
| 7 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,990 | $51,160 | 50 |
| 8 | Dubuque, IA | $49,440 | $51,190 | 40 |
| 9 | Madison, WI | $49,410 | $48,980 | 110 |
| 10 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,220 | $49,580 | 140 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing agricultural equipment operatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Educational Services, State Government Owned | $61,600 | $58,330 | 530 |
| 2 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, State Government Owned | $61,600 | $58,380 | 530 |
| 3 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $61,430 | $58,250 | 530 |
| 4 | Educational Services | $60,780 | $58,170 | 540 |
| 5 | Sector 61 - Educational Services | $60,780 | $58,170 | 540 |
| 6 | Truck Transportation | $60,750 | $56,250 | — |
| 7 | State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $56,930 | $57,830 | 560 |
| 8 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $48,970 | $53,810 | 860 |
| 9 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $48,800 | $48,200 | 50 |
| 10 | Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing | $48,730 | $51,340 | 960 |
| 11 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $48,350 | $50,310 | 40 |
| 12 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $48,350 | $50,310 | 40 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in the U.S.?
The median agricultural equipment operators salary in the United States is $41,730 per year (mean $43,710), and about 80% earn between $33,500 and $58,650.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make per hour?
Roughly $21 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $43,710 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays agricultural equipment operators the most?
Montana has the highest average pay for agricultural equipment operators at $54,400 per year (median $58,770).
What is the job outlook for agricultural equipment operators?
Employment is projected to change +7.7% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 10,500 openings per year.