Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in Iowa City, IA is $46,940/year ($22.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.51), which stretches that salary to about $51,295 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $962/month, or 30% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $47K actually covers in Iowa City, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.51). 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 Iowa City
Iowa City sits well above the national pay line for agricultural equipment operators, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. Rent runs $962/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.51 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for agricultural equipment operators in metros near Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $46K | $50K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $47K | $45K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $54K | $51K |
| St. Louis | $47K | $50K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $69K or more, a $40K 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 annually. We'll email you when Iowa City 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 Iowa City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 30.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $962/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Iowa City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,014/month. At HUD’s $962/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Iowa City?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $47K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
Iowa City pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $46,940 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,120, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $69,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,125/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $962/month, which eats 30.8% 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 Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 91.51 (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 $51,295 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.