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Salary comparison

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals vs. Agricultural Equipment Operators: Who Earns More?

Agricultural Equipment Operatorss out-earn Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animalss by $5K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animalss land at $36,670 and Agricultural Equipment Operatorss at $41,730. The education gap is real: farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animal programs typically require no formal educational credential, while agricultural equipment operator programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animalss is Alaska ($50,450); for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss it's Montana ($58,770).

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Median salary
$36,670
$41,730
Hourly rate
$17.63/hr
$20.06/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$27,360
$33,500
Senior level (90th %)
$54,080
$58,650
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
32,810
28,500
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Farming & Fishing
Farming & Fishing
Top-paying state
Alaska
Montana

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals median pay.

State
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Minnesota
$46,020
$48,520
North Dakota
$40,320
$48,080
Virginia
$38,670
$47,890
Massachusetts
$38,280
$49,150
South Dakota
$38,000
$48,060
Nebraska
$37,220
$46,670
Montana
$37,010
$58,770
Delaware
$36,940
$49,910
Iowa
$36,480
$47,220
Pennsylvania
$35,360
$47,100
New York
$34,860
$50,020
Wisconsin
$32,970
$47,100
Missouri
$32,950
$46,490
Louisiana
$31,940
$58,520
Ohio
$31,200
$47,220

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animalss or Agricultural Equipment Operatorss?

Agricultural Equipment Operatorss earn more nationally. The median is $36,670 for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animalss versus $41,730 for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss, a difference of $5K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals 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, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals or Agricultural Equipment Operators?

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals 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, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animalss get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animalss at $50,450/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals vs. Agricultural Equipment Operators pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Minnesota, Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animalss earn $46,020 vs. $48,520 for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals salary breakdownView →Full Agricultural Equipment Operators salary breakdownView →Best cities for Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animalss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Agricultural Equipment Operatorss by take-home payExplore →How to become a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animalsGuide →How to become a agricultural equipment operatorsGuide →