Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for agricultural equipment operators is $41,730, or $20.06 per hour. About 28,500 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $58,770 in Montana to $32,060 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 40 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $58,770 | $28.25 | 130 | 1.42 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $58,520 | $28.14 | 270 | 0.76 |
| 3 | New York | $50,020 | $24.05 | — | — |
| 4 | Delaware | $49,910 | $24.00 | 40 | 0.45 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $49,150 | $23.63 | 40 | 0.06 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $48,520 | $23.33 | 900 | 1.67 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $48,080 | $23.11 | 430 | 5.47 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $48,060 | $23.11 | 240 | 2.86 |
| 9 | Virginia | $47,890 | $23.02 | 120 | 0.16 |
| 10 | Ohio | $47,220 | $22.70 | 600 | 0.59 |
| 11 | Iowa | $47,220 | $22.70 | 1,530 | 5.37 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $47,100 | $22.65 | 830 | 1.53 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $47,100 | $22.64 | 390 | 0.35 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $46,670 | $22.44 | 1,090 | 5.83 |
| 15 | Missouri | $46,490 | $22.35 | 900 | 1.67 |
| 16 | Maine | $46,490 | $22.35 | 60 | 0.47 |
| 17 | Indiana | $46,280 | $22.25 | 810 | 1.39 |
| 18 | Illinois | $46,050 | $22.14 | 1,910 | 1.71 |
| 19 | Kansas | $45,570 | $21.91 | 670 | 2.55 |
| 20 | Oregon | $44,150 | $21.23 | 310 | 0.87 |
| 21 | Michigan | $42,380 | $20.37 | 460 | 0.57 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $42,000 | $20.19 | 190 | 0.52 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $41,660 | $20.03 | 70 | 0.09 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $39,580 | $19.03 | 550 | 0.61 |
| 25 | Maryland | $39,580 | $19.03 | 180 | 0.37 |
| 26 | Idaho | $38,920 | $18.71 | 490 | 3.14 |
| 27 | California | $38,820 | $18.66 | 7,940 | 2.38 |
| 28 | Washington | $38,470 | $18.50 | 550 | 0.84 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $37,750 | $18.15 | 390 | 0.65 |
| 30 | Colorado | $37,290 | $17.93 | — | — |
| 31 | Florida | $36,660 | $17.62 | 790 | 0.43 |
| 32 | Arizona | $36,600 | $17.60 | 730 | 1.22 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $36,460 | $17.53 | 280 | 1.31 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $35,580 | $17.11 | 130 | 0.84 |
| 35 | Georgia | $35,410 | $17.02 | 570 | 0.64 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $34,900 | $16.78 | 170 | 0.56 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $34,490 | $16.58 | 380 | 0.90 |
| 38 | Texas | $34,260 | $16.47 | 2,200 | 0.85 |
| 39 | Alabama | $33,910 | $16.30 | 370 | 0.96 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $32,060 | $15.41 | 350 | 1.48 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do agricultural equipment operators make?
The median annual wage for agricultural equipment operators in the United States is $41,730, or $20.06 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $33,500, and the top 10% earn $58,650.
How many agricultural equipment operators are employed in the U.S.?
About 28,500 people work as agricultural equipment operators nationwide.
Which state pays agricultural equipment operators the most?
Montana pays the most at a median of $58,770, followed by Louisiana ($58,520) and New York ($50,020).
Which state pays agricultural equipment operators the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $32,060.
Where are agricultural equipment operators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Nebraska at 5.83×.