Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in Colorado is $37,290/year ($17.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $35,956 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 70.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Colorado. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $37K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About agricultural equipment operators
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What this looks like in Colorado
Pay for agricultural equipment operators in Colorado runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,832/month, which is 72.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) 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 operators.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
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Track agricultural equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 72.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/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 Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,221/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 Colorado?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $37K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
Colorado pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in Colorado?
The median is $37,290 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,410, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $48,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,530/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 72.4% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median agricultural equipment operators salary is worth about $35,956 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.