Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in Louisiana is $58,520/year ($28.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $67,049 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 31% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Louisiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in Louisiana?
About agricultural equipment operators
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Louisiana sits well above the national pay line for agricultural equipment operators, local pay runs about 40% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track agricultural equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 30.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,931/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay is 40% above the national median — $59K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
Louisiana pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in Louisiana?
The median is $58,520 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,190, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $64,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,929/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 30.3% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $67,049 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.