Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in Montana is $58,770/year ($28.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $60,588 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 29.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in Montana?
About agricultural equipment operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for agricultural equipment operators, local pay runs about 41% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $45K 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 Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Farming & Fishing
Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 28.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for agricultural equipment operators in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,727/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 Montana?
Local pay is 41% above the national median — $59K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
Montana pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in Montana?
The median is $58,770 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,790, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $73,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,908/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 28.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a agricultural equipment operators salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $60,588 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.