Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in California
Agricultural Equipment Operators in California earn a median of $38,820 a year ($18.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,580 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $41,730. California ranks 27th of 40 states for agricultural equipment operators pay. There are 0.44 agricultural equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for agricultural equipment operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,620 | $17.13 |
| 25th percentile | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Median | $38,820 | $18.66 |
| 75th percentile | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,580 | $26.24 |
| Average (mean) | $42,730 | $20.54 |
Half of agricultural equipment operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,235 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,617.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,493.08 |
| Weekly | $746.54 |
| Hourly | $18.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $47,880 | 590 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,960 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $44,260 | 280 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $44,230 | 220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $41,910 | 460 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,740 | 680 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,320 | 320 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $38,280 | 220 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,070 | 40 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,890 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,810 | 390 |
| Merced, CA | $37,570 | 200 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,420 | 210 |
| El Centro, CA | $37,200 | 260 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $36,930 | 700 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,650 | 910 |
| Visalia, CA | $36,130 | 650 |
Highest-paying states for agricultural equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Montana | $58,770 |
| Louisiana | $58,520 |
| New York | $50,020 |
| Delaware | $49,910 |
| Massachusetts | $49,150 |
| Minnesota | $48,520 |
| North Dakota | $48,080 |
| South Dakota | $48,060 |
| Virginia | $47,890 |
| Iowa | $47,220 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,580 | $17.11 |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $36,330 | $17.47 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| Agricultural Inspector | $53,620 | $25.78 |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | $53,090 | $25.52 |
| Animal Breeder | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $56,280 | $27.06 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Logging Equipment Operator | $61,940 | $29.78 |
| Log Graders and Scalers | $56,670 | $27.24 |
| Logging Workers, All Other | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| Faller | $59,590 | $28.65 |
More: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 45-2091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a agricultural equipment operator make in California?
The median salary for agricultural equipment operators in California is $38,820 a year, or $18.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid agricultural equipment operators make in California?
The top 10% of agricultural equipment operators in California earn at least $54,580 a year. The top 25% earn $46,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for agricultural equipment operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,620 a year, and a quarter of agricultural equipment operators earn $36,960 or less.
How many agricultural equipment operators work in California?
About 7,940 agricultural equipment operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.