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Salary comparison

Agricultural Equipment Operators vs. Animal Caretakers: Who Earns More?

Agricultural Equipment Operatorss out-earn Animal Caretakerss by $9K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Agricultural Equipment Operatorss land at $42,580 and Animal Caretakerss at $33,470. The education gap is real: agricultural equipment operator programs typically require no formal educational credential, while animal caretaker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss is Montana ($53,900); for Animal Caretakerss it's Washington ($38,400).

Agricultural Equipment Operators
Animal Caretakers
Median salary
$42,580
$33,470
Hourly rate
$20.47/hr
$16.09/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$31,240
$24,500
Senior level (90th %)
$57,790
$46,480
Education required
No formal educational credential
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
30,940
277,300
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Farming & Fishing
Personal Care
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
Animal Caretakers
Montana
$53,900
$32,290
New York
$51,100
$36,500
Minnesota
$48,390
$33,790
Maine
$47,500
$36,310
Illinois
$46,810
$34,440
New Jersey
$46,650
$34,530
Utah
$42,060
$31,550
Maryland
$41,440
$35,990
California
$40,130
$37,200
Washington
$39,980
$38,400
Oregon
$39,730
$35,310
Hawaii
$39,440
$34,410
Massachusetts
$39,310
$36,910
Vermont
$36,610
$35,600
Arizona
$34,270
$35,170

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Equipment Operatorss or Animal Caretakerss?

Agricultural Equipment Operatorss earn more nationally. The median is $42,580 for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss versus $33,470 for Animal Caretakerss, a difference of $9K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Agricultural Equipment Operators or Animal Caretakers?

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 Animal Caretakers?

Agricultural Equipment Operators typically requires no formal educational credential. Animal Caretakers 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. Animal Caretakers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Montana, Agricultural Equipment Operatorss earn $53,900 vs. $32,290 for Animal Caretakerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agricultural Equipment Operators salary breakdownView →Full Animal Caretakers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Animal Caretakerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a agricultural equipment operatorsGuide →How to become a animal caretakersGuide →