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Salary comparison

Agricultural Equipment Operators vs. Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors: Who Earns More?

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors out-earn Agricultural Equipment Operators by $16K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Agricultural Equipment Operators land at $41,730 and Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors at $58,170. The education gap is real: agricultural equipment operator programs typically require no formal educational credential, while aircraft cargo handling supervisor programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Agricultural Equipment Operators is Montana ($58,770); for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors it's Georgia ($81,380).

Agricultural Equipment Operators
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
Median salary
$41,730
$58,170
Hourly rate
$20.06/hr
$27.97/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,500
$41,690
Senior level (90th %)
$58,650
$92,160
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
28,500
9,760
Job growth (10-year)
7.7%
5.2%
Category
Farming & Fishing
Transportation
Top-paying state
Montana
Georgia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Agricultural Equipment Operators median pay.

State
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
Louisiana
$58,520
$79,460
Virginia
$47,890
$78,420
Ohio
$47,220
$79,650
Pennsylvania
$47,100
$75,620
Missouri
$46,490
$76,450
Indiana
$46,280
$75,880
Oregon
$44,150
$61,340
New Jersey
$41,660
$65,590
Colorado
$37,290
$79,260
Florida
$36,660
$62,240
Arizona
$36,600
$74,780
New Mexico
$35,580
$72,760
Georgia
$35,410
$81,380
South Carolina
$34,490
$61,470
Arkansas
$32,060
$73,520

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Equipment Operators or Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors?

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors earn more nationally. The median is $41,730 for Agricultural Equipment Operators versus $58,170 for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors, a difference of $16K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Agricultural Equipment Operators or Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors?

Agricultural Equipment Operators has the better 10-year outlook at 7.7% projected growth, compared to 5.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Agricultural Equipment Operators or Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors?

Agricultural Equipment Operators typically requires no formal educational credential. Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Agricultural Equipment Operators get paid the most?

Montana is the top-paying state for Agricultural Equipment Operators at $58,770/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Agricultural Equipment Operators vs. Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Louisiana, Agricultural Equipment Operators earn $58,520 vs. $79,460 for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agricultural Equipment Operators salary breakdownView →Full Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agricultural Equipment Operators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors by take-home payExplore →How to become a agricultural equipment operatorsGuide →How to become a aircraft cargo handling supervisorsGuide →