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Salary comparison

Accountants and Auditors vs. Agricultural Equipment Operators: Who Earns More?

Accountants and Auditors out-earn Agricultural Equipment Operators by $42K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Accountants and Auditors land at $83,680 and Agricultural Equipment Operators at $41,730. The education gap is real: accountants and auditor programs typically require bachelor's degree, while agricultural equipment operator programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Accountants and Auditors is District of Columbia ($111,530); for Agricultural Equipment Operators it's Montana ($58,770).

Accountants and Auditors
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Median salary
$83,680
$41,730
Hourly rate
$40.23/hr
$20.06/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$56,020
$33,500
Senior level (90th %)
$144,090
$58,650
Education required
Bachelor's degree
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
1,449,500
28,500
Job growth (10-year)
4.6%
7.7%
Category
Business & Finance
Farming & Fishing
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
Montana

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Accountants and Auditors median pay.

State
Accountants and Auditors
Agricultural Equipment Operators
New York
$102,640
$50,020
Massachusetts
$99,460
$49,150
Delaware
$95,020
$49,910
Virginia
$93,290
$47,890
Minnesota
$81,600
$48,520
Wisconsin
$79,400
$47,100
Ohio
$79,320
$47,220
Pennsylvania
$79,000
$47,100
South Dakota
$78,880
$48,060
Iowa
$77,440
$47,220
Missouri
$76,590
$46,490
Montana
$75,810
$58,770
North Dakota
$75,730
$48,080
Louisiana
$73,810
$58,520
Nebraska
$72,080
$46,670

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Accountants and Auditors or Agricultural Equipment Operators?

Accountants and Auditors earn more nationally. The median is $83,680 for Accountants and Auditors versus $41,730 for Agricultural Equipment Operators, a difference of $42K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Accountants and Auditors or Agricultural Equipment Operators?

Agricultural Equipment Operators has the better 10-year outlook at 7.7% projected growth, compared to 4.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Accountants and Auditors or Agricultural Equipment Operators?

Accountants and Auditors typically requires bachelor's degree. Agricultural Equipment Operators requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Accountants and Auditors get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Accountants and Auditors at $111,530/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Accountants and Auditors vs. Agricultural Equipment Operators pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Accountants and Auditors earn $102,640 vs. $50,020 for Agricultural Equipment Operators. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Accountants and Auditors salary breakdownView →Full Agricultural Equipment Operators salary breakdownView →Best cities for Accountants and Auditors by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Agricultural Equipment Operators by take-home payExplore →How to become a accountants and auditorsGuide →How to become a agricultural equipment operatorsGuide →