Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Agricultural Equipment Operators vs. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians: Who Earns More?

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss out-earn Agricultural Equipment Operatorss by $36K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Agricultural Equipment Operatorss land at $42,580 and Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss at $78,680. The education gap is real: agricultural equipment operator programs typically require no formal educational credential, while aircraft mechanics and service technician programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss is Montana ($53,900); for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss it's New Jersey ($97,730).

Agricultural Equipment Operators
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Median salary
$42,580
$78,680
Hourly rate
$20.47/hr
$37.83/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$31,240
$47,790
Senior level (90th %)
$57,790
$120,080
Education required
No formal educational credential
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
30,940
136,390
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Farming & Fishing
Repair & Maintenance
Top-paying state
Montana
New Jersey

Pay by state

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

State
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
New York
$51,100
$93,200
Delaware
$50,450
$85,000
Minnesota
$48,390
$86,640
New Jersey
$46,650
$97,730
Virginia
$45,740
$80,770
Maryland
$41,440
$97,660
California
$40,130
$84,910
Tennessee
$39,980
$85,580
Washington
$39,980
$85,010
Oregon
$39,730
$81,570
Hawaii
$39,440
$83,200
Massachusetts
$39,310
$87,270
Vermont
$36,610
$80,890
Texas
$29,930
$80,320
Alabama
$29,410
$86,780

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Equipment Operatorss or Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss?

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss earn more nationally. The median is $42,580 for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss versus $78,680 for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss, a difference of $36K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Agricultural Equipment Operators or Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Agricultural Equipment Operators or Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians?

Agricultural Equipment Operators typically requires no formal educational credential. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Agricultural Equipment Operatorss get paid the most?

Montana is the top-paying state for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss at $53,900/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Agricultural Equipment Operators vs. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Agricultural Equipment Operatorss earn $51,100 vs. $93,200 for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agricultural Equipment Operators salary breakdownView →Full Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss by take-home payExplore →How to become a agricultural equipment operatorsGuide →How to become a aircraft mechanics and service techniciansGuide →