Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in North Carolina is $39,580/year ($19.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $42,715 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 46.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in North Carolina?
About agricultural equipment operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Carolina
Agricultural equipment operators pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $40K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 48.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary by metro in North Carolina
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $37K | -7% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track agricultural equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Farming & Fishing
Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 48.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,567/month. At HUD’s $1,284/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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
North Carolina pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in North Carolina?
The median is $39,580 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,110, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $49,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,672/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 48.1% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $42,715 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.