Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in Albany, GA is $33,600/year ($16.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $40K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.67), which stretches that salary to about $38,326 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 49.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $34K get you in Albany?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Albany’s Regional Price Parity (87.67). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About agricultural equipment operators
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What this looks like in Albany
Pay for agricultural equipment operators in Albany runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 49% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.67 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for agricultural equipment operatorss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for agricultural equipment operators in metros near Albany, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $44K | $44K |
| Columbia | $32K | $34K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $37K | $32K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $37K | $38K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Albany, GA
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $40K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Agricultural Equipment Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $59K | +41% | 130 |
| Louisiana | $59K | +40% | 270 |
| New York | $50K | +20% | N/A |
| Delaware | $50K | +20% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | +18% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $49K | +16% | 900 |
| North Dakota | $48K | +15% | 430 |
| South Dakota | $48K | +15% | 240 |
| Virginia | $48K | +15% | 120 |
| Ohio | $47K | +13% | 600 |
| Iowa | $47K | +13% | 1,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $47K | +13% | 390 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | +13% | 830 |
| Nebraska | $47K | +12% | 1,090 |
| Missouri | $46K | +11% | 900 |
| Maine | $46K | +11% | 60 |
| Indiana | $46K | +11% | 810 |
| Illinois | $46K | +10% | 1,910 |
| Kansas | $46K | +9% | 670 |
| Oregon | $44K | +6% | 310 |
| Michigan | $42K | +2% | 460 |
| Kentucky | $42K | +1% | 190 |
| New Jersey | $42K | -0% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $40K | -5% | 550 |
| Maryland | $40K | -5% | 180 |
| Idaho | $39K | -7% | 490 |
| California | $39K | -7% | 7,940 |
| Washington | $38K | -8% | 550 |
| Tennessee | $38K | -10% | 390 |
| Colorado | $37K | -11% | N/A |
| Florida | $37K | -12% | 790 |
| Arizona | $37K | -12% | 730 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -13% | 280 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -15% | 130 |
| Georgia | $35K | -15% | 570 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -16% | 170 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -17% | 380 |
| Texas | $34K | -18% | 2,200 |
| Alabama | $34K | -19% | 370 |
| Arkansas | $32K | -23% | 350 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track agricultural equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Albany numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Albany?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 49% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for agricultural equipment operators in Albany?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,732/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 65% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is agricultural equipment operator a high-paying job in Albany?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $34K here vs. $42K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Albany compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
Albany pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in Albany, GA?
The median is $33,600 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,870, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $39,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Albany?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,304/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 49% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a agricultural equipment operators salary go in Albany?
Albany has a Regional Price Parity of 87.67 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median agricultural equipment operators salary is worth about $38,326 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do agricultural equipment operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.