Agricultural Equipment Operators
SOC 45-2091 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Agricultural Equipment Operators is $39,690, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $41,850, and an estimated 28,910 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +21.2% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +2.9% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 7.7% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Agricultural Equipment Operators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $39,690 | $39,690 | 28,910 |
| 2022 | $37,780 | $39,335 | 28,830 |
| 2021 | $36,360 | $40,886 | 26,180 |
| 2020 | $32,750 | $38,557 | 29,220 |
Nominal change
+21.2%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+2.9%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+7.7%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
65,200
Projected 2034
70,300
Annual Openings
10,500
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Agricultural Equipment Operators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $39,690. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $51,160 | +28.9% | 40 |
| Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $49,680 | +25.2% | 60 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $49,360 | +24.4% | 240 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $49,320 | +24.3% | 130 |
| Ohio | $49,060 | +23.6% | 1,000 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $49,060 | +23.6% | 210 |
| Minnesota | $48,980 | +23.4% | 720 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $48,500 | +22.2% | 170 |
| Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $47,800 | +20.4% | 100 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $47,420 | +19.5% | 500 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$30,050
25th Pct
$35,190
Median
$39,690
75th Pct
$46,650
90th Pct
$54,550
Related Occupations in Farming, Fishing & Forestry
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
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