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Salary comparison

Agricultural Equipment Operators vs. Airfield Operations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Airfield Operations Specialistss out-earn Agricultural Equipment Operatorss by $14K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Agricultural Equipment Operatorss land at $42,580 and Airfield Operations Specialistss at $56,750. The education gap is real: agricultural equipment operator programs typically require no formal educational credential, while airfield operations specialist programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss is Montana ($53,900); for Airfield Operations Specialistss it's Washington ($82,540).

Agricultural Equipment Operators
Airfield Operations Specialists
Median salary
$42,580
$56,750
Hourly rate
$20.47/hr
$27.28/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$31,240
$35,200
Senior level (90th %)
$57,790
$111,030
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
30,940
16,640
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Farming & Fishing
Transportation
Top-paying state
Montana
Washington

Pay by state

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

State
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Airfield Operations Specialists
Montana
$53,900
$61,550
Nebraska
$45,690
$57,610
Michigan
$42,600
$60,990
Utah
$42,060
$61,400
Pennsylvania
$41,660
$59,480
Maryland
$41,440
$64,480
California
$40,130
$61,100
Washington
$39,980
$82,540
Oregon
$39,730
$75,710
Florida
$35,510
$62,600
Oklahoma
$34,340
$74,290
Arizona
$34,270
$80,260
Arkansas
$30,380
$58,280
Texas
$29,930
$77,460
Alabama
$29,410
$78,270

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Equipment Operatorss or Airfield Operations Specialistss?

Airfield Operations Specialistss earn more nationally. The median is $42,580 for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss versus $56,750 for Airfield Operations Specialistss, a difference of $14K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Agricultural Equipment Operators or Airfield Operations Specialists?

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 Airfield Operations Specialists?

Agricultural Equipment Operators typically requires no formal educational credential. Airfield Operations Specialists requires no formal educational credential. 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. Airfield Operations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Montana, Agricultural Equipment Operatorss earn $53,900 vs. $61,550 for Airfield Operations Specialistss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agricultural Equipment Operators salary breakdownView →Full Airfield Operations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airfield Operations Specialistss by take-home payExplore →How to become a agricultural equipment operatorsGuide →How to become a airfield operations specialistsGuide →