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Salary comparison

Agricultural Equipment Operators vs. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: Who Earns More?

Agricultural Equipment Operatorss out-earn Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses by $6K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Agricultural Equipment Operatorss land at $41,730 and Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses at $35,660. The education gap is real: agricultural equipment operator programs typically require no formal educational credential, while farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss is Montana ($58,770); for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses it's Wyoming ($55,180).

Agricultural Equipment Operators
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Median salary
$41,730
$35,660
Hourly rate
$20.06/hr
$17.15/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,500
$32,900
Senior level (90th %)
$58,650
$45,690
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
28,500
265,500
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Farming & Fishing
Farming & Fishing
Top-paying state
Montana
Wyoming

Pay by state

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

State
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Montana
$58,770
$41,390
New York
$50,020
$40,930
Massachusetts
$49,150
$38,220
Minnesota
$48,520
$38,080
South Dakota
$48,060
$42,260
Iowa
$47,220
$37,590
Ohio
$47,220
$37,470
Nebraska
$46,670
$39,530
Maine
$46,490
$39,060
Illinois
$46,050
$41,050
Michigan
$42,380
$38,680
New Jersey
$41,660
$37,710
Maryland
$39,580
$38,420
Washington
$38,470
$39,170
Colorado
$37,290
$38,170

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Equipment Operatorss or Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses?

Agricultural Equipment Operatorss earn more nationally. The median is $41,730 for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss versus $35,660 for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses, a difference of $6K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Agricultural Equipment Operators or Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse?

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 Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse?

Agricultural Equipment Operators typically requires no formal educational credential. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse 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 $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. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Montana, Agricultural Equipment Operatorss earn $58,770 vs. $41,390 for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agricultural Equipment Operators salary breakdownView →Full Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses by take-home payExplore →How to become a agricultural equipment operatorsGuide →How to become a farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouseGuide →