Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in Arizona is $36,600/year ($17.6/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $43K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $37,963 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 56.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Arizona?
About agricultural equipment operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for agricultural equipment operators in Arizona runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,437/month, which is 56.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for agricultural equipment operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $43K or more, a $10K spread from bottom to top.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary by metro in Arizona
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $37K | +0% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track agricultural equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
Related careers in Farming & Fishing
Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 56.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,975/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 73% 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 Arizona?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $37K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
Arizona pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in Arizona?
The median is $36,600 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,910, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $42,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,544/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 56.5% 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 Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 $37,963 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.