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Salary comparison

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse vs. Agricultural Equipment Operators: 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. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses land at $35,660 and Agricultural Equipment Operatorss at $41,730. The education gap is real: farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse programs typically require no formal educational credential, while agricultural equipment operator programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses is Wyoming ($55,180); for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss it's Montana ($58,770).

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

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse median pay.

State
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
Agricultural Equipment Operators
South Dakota
$42,260
$48,060
Montana
$41,390
$58,770
New York
$40,930
$50,020
Nebraska
$39,530
$46,670
Massachusetts
$38,220
$49,150
Minnesota
$38,080
$48,520
Iowa
$37,590
$47,220
Ohio
$37,470
$47,220
Pennsylvania
$37,010
$47,100
Missouri
$36,280
$46,490
Virginia
$35,580
$47,890
Wisconsin
$35,360
$47,100
Louisiana
$33,260
$58,520
Delaware
$33,090
$49,910
North Dakota
$31,080
$48,080

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

Common questions

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

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

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

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, Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse or Agricultural Equipment Operators?

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse typically requires no formal educational credential. Agricultural Equipment Operators requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses get paid the most?

Wyoming is the top-paying state for Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses at $55,180/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse vs. Agricultural Equipment Operators pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In South Dakota, Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses earn $42,260 vs. $48,060 for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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