Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in South Carolina is $34,490/year ($16.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $37,018 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 53.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in South Carolina?
About agricultural equipment operators
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for agricultural equipment operators in South Carolina runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 52% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for agricultural equipment operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary by metro in South Carolina
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $32K | -8% | 200 |
Compare to other states
Track agricultural equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 52% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,762/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $34K here vs. $42K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
South Carolina pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — below the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in South Carolina?
The median is $34,490 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,370, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $46,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,431/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 52% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $37,018 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.