SOC 45-2091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Agricultural Equipment Operators — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Agricultural Equipment Operators in California is $38,820 per year, close to the national median of $41,730 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Agricultural Equipment Operators in California is $38,820 per year, close to the national median of $41,730 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $35,620 at the tenth percentile to more than $54,580 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,960 to $46,090.
Employment stands at 7,940, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 40 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 27th by median wage. Napa leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,880. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 753rd of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,620 | −14.6% |
| 25th | $36,960 | −11.4% |
| Median (50th) | $38,820 | −7.0% |
| 75th | $46,090 | +10.4% |
| 90th | $54,580 | +30.8% |
| Mean | $42,730 | +2.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa | $47,880 | 590 | |
| 2 | Sacramento | $45,960 | 300 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $44,260 | 280 | |
| 4 | San Luis Obispo | $44,230 | 220 | |
| 5 | Santa Maria | $41,910 | 460 | |
| 6 | Salinas | $38,740 | 680 | |
| 7 | Modesto | $38,320 | 320 | |
| 8 | Oxnard | $38,280 | 220 | |
| 9 | Vallejo | $38,070 | 40 | |
| 10 | Yuba City | $37,890 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $38,820 buys what $35,068 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 16.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,068US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,820 a year, 7.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,620 to $54,580 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,940 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 27th of 40 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Napa, at $47,880.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Agricultural Equipment Operators in California?
The median annual wage is $38,820, or $18.66 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $41,730, so pay in California is 7.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $54,580 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,620 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Napa, at $47,880 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,940 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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