Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in Texas is $34,260/year ($16.47/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $37,447 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 57.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in Texas?
About agricultural equipment operators
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for agricultural equipment operators in Texas runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 57.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary by metro in Texas
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi | $37K | +9% | 30 |
| Lubbock | $35K | +1% | 210 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $29K | -15% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track agricultural equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 57.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,473/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 96% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $34K here vs. $42K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
Texas pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — below the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in Texas?
The median is $34,260 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,550, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $44,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,464/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 57.4% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $37,447 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.