Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a agricultural equipment operators in Wisconsin is $47,100/year ($22.65/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $49,931 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 37.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Wisconsin?
About agricultural equipment operators
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for agricultural equipment operators, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 37.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level agricultural equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary by metro in Wisconsin
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $49K | +5% | 110 |
| Eau Claire | $48K | +2% | 30 |
| Green Bay | $47K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track agricultural equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 37.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural equipment operators typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,186/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $47K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for agricultural equipment operators?
Wisconsin pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in Wisconsin?
The median is $47,100 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,430, and experienced agricultural equipment operators can clear $61,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,203/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 37.5% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $49,931 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.