Agricultural Equipment Operators
SOC code 45-2091 · O*NET-SOC 45-2091.00 · Little to some preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Agricultural Equipment Operators pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$41,730
a year
Hourly
$20.06
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$43,710
$21.02 per hour
Middle 50%
$36,810 – $48,100
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$33,500 – $58,650
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
28,500
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $33,500
- $16.11/hr
- 25th percentile
- $36,810
- $17.70/hr
- Median percentile
- $41,730
- $20.06/hr
- 75th percentile
- $48,100
- $23.12/hr
- 90th percentile
- $58,650
- $28.20/hr
What does an agricultural equipment operator do?
Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities such as tilling soil; planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops; feeding and herding livestock; or removing animal waste. May perform tasks such as crop baling or hay bucking. May operate stationary equipment to perform post-harvest tasks such as husking, shelling, threshing, and ginning.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers.
- Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
- Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
- Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
- Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery.
- Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks.
- Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities.
- Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment.
How to become an agricultural equipment operator
Most people in this role hold less than a high school diploma — 57% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Less than a High School Diploma57%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)19%
- Post-Secondary Certificate14%
- Some College Courses10%
Common questions
How much does an agricultural equipment operator earn?
The national median is $41,730 a year. The full range runs from $33,500 at the 10th percentile to $58,650 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an agricultural equipment operator without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
- Speaking2.8/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language3.4/5
- Mechanical2.9/5
- Public Safety and Security2.8/5
- Mathematics2.8/5
- Transportation2.7/5
- Production and Processing2.7/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.6/5
- Chemistry2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Quality Control Analysis.