Agricultural Equipment Operators: 28,500 jobs, median pay $41,730

28,500

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$41,730

Median pay a year

Middle half: $36,810–$48,100

10,100

Annual openings

10-year change: +8.6%

No formal educational credential

Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 77 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

Fresno, CAMedian pay $36,650 · LCA filings 0910$36,6500

Bakersfield–Delano, CAMedian pay $36,930 · LCA filings 0700$36,9300

Salinas, CAMedian pay $38,740 · LCA filings 0680$38,7400

Visalia, CAMedian pay $36,130 · LCA filings 0650$36,1300

Napa, CAMedian pay $47,880 · LCA filings 0590$47,8800

Santa Maria–Santa Barbara, CAMedian pay $41,910 · LCA filings 0460$41,9100

Stockton–Lodi, CAMedian pay $37,810 · LCA filings 0390$37,8100

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $47,080 · LCA filings 0360$47,0800

Modesto, CAMedian pay $38,320 · LCA filings 0320$38,3200

Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAMedian pay $45,960 · LCA filings 0300$45,9600

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

Cincinnati, OH–KY–INEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$54,380500

Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIEmployment 180 · LCA filings 0$53,6801800

Lafayette–West Lafayette, INEmployment 30 · LCA filings 0$52,100300

Columbus, OHEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$51,050500

Sioux City, IA–NE–SDEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$49,990500

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

Fresno, CALevel II $37,107 · Level III $39,229 · Level IV $41,330$35,006$37,107$39,229$41,330

Bakersfield–Delano, CALevel II $37,565 · Level III $39,957 · Level IV $42,370$35,152$37,565$39,957$42,370

Salinas, CALevel II $39,000 · Level III $41,163 · Level IV $43,306$36,858$39,000$41,163$43,306

Visalia, CALevel II $36,442 · Level III $37,939 · Level IV $39,458$34,923$36,442$37,939$39,458

Napa, CALevel II $44,408 · Level III $47,133 · Level IV $49,878$41,662$44,408$47,133$49,878

Santa Maria–Santa Barbara, CALevel II $39,978 · Level III $42,598 · Level IV $45,198$37,378$39,978$42,598$45,198

Stockton–Lodi, CALevel II $38,563 · Level III $40,227 · Level IV $41,912$36,878$38,563$40,227$41,912

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $43,222 · Level III $47,694 · Level IV $52,187$38,730$43,222$47,694$52,187

Modesto, CALevel II $39,437 · Level III $41,912 · Level IV $44,387$36,962$39,437$41,912$44,387

Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CALevel II $42,661 · Level III $47,466 · Level IV $52,291$37,835$42,661$47,466$52,291

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT

Agricultural MechanizationCIP 01.02OPT · up to 12 months5OPT · up to 12 months

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Related occupations · Farming, Fishing & Forestry

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products Logging Equipment Operators Fishing and Hunting Workers Agricultural Inspectors Forest and Conservation Workers

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology