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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Agricultural Equipment Operatorss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $56,447/year, better purchasing power than Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood's higher nominal pay of $54,020. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood$54,020
#2 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington$53,510
#3 Columbus$52,370

Best purchasing power

#1 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood$56,447
#2 Columbus$54,855
#3 Des Moines-West Des Moines$54,711

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed agricultural equipment operatorss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$54,020
$56,447
#2
Columbus
33% rent burden
$52,370
$54,855
#3
$50,170
$54,711
#4
Omaha
34% rent burden
$47,780
$51,986
#5
Kansas City
34% rent burden
$47,930
$51,794
#6
Champaign-Urbana
28% rent burden
$47,440
$51,176
#7
$53,510
$51,049
#8
Madison
28% rent burden
$49,430
$50,807
#9
St. Louis
31% rent burden
$47,230
$49,669
#10
$49,160
$47,456
#11
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
70% rent burden
$48,440
$44,943
#12
Napa
68% rent burden
$48,710
$43,279
#13
$44,320
$43,218
#14
$41,840
$41,815
#15
Yakima
41% rent burden
$39,910
$41,769
#16
$45,030
$41,464
#17
Memphis
41% rent burden
$37,400
$40,573
#18
El Centro
43% rent burden
$38,180
$40,118
#19
Merced
46% rent burden
$39,190
$39,876
#20
$41,820
$39,205
#21
$41,510
$38,153
#22
Modesto
53% rent burden
$39,490
$37,931
#23
Visalia
47% rent burden
$37,700
$37,764
#24
Stockton-Lodi
53% rent burden
$39,620
$37,701
#25
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
57% rent burden
$38,650
$37,408

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $54,020 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $45,017 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A agricultural equipment operators in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss?

Champaign-Urbana has one of the lowest rent burdens for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,122/month, with a median salary of $47,440.

Where do Agricultural Equipment Operatorss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood pays the highest nominal median salary at $54,020/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Agricultural Equipment OperatorssView →How to become a agricultural equipment operatorsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →