Agricultural Equipment Operators pay in California
$42,730avg. a year
$20.54 an hour · 7,940 employed
Agricultural Equipment Operators in California earn an average of $42,730 a year. That is $980 (2%) less than the U.S. average of $43,710. The best-paying metro area is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $47,520.
$38,820Median pay
$20.54Average hourly
+24%Avg. pay since 2020
#26Of 40 states
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for agricultural equipment operators by metro area. Swipe to see all 17.
1300 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$47,520
$22.85 an hour
2590 jobs
Napa, CA
$47,160
$22.67 an hour
3280 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$46,180
$22.20 an hour
4220 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$44,240
$21.27 an hour
5460 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$42,620
$20.49 an hour
6260 jobs
El Centro, CA
$42,510
$20.44 an hour
7200 jobs
Merced, CA
$42,050
$20.22 an hour
8320 jobs
Modesto, CA
$41,930
$20.16 an hour
9220 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$41,920
$20.15 an hour
1040 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$41,570
$19.98 an hour
11680 jobs
Salinas, CA
$41,180
$19.80 an hour
12100 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$40,660
$19.55 an hour
13390 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$40,250
$19.35 an hour
14700 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$39,990
$19.23 an hour
15210 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$39,860
$19.16 an hour
16910 jobs
Fresno, CA
$39,250
$18.87 an hour
17650 jobs
Visalia, CA
$37,970
$18.25 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Agricultural Equipment Operators pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California agricultural equipment operators work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $40k$40k–$46k$46k–$49k$49k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $43,710 | $21.02 |
| California | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| Oregon | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| Arizona | $37,160 | $17.87 |
Related jobs in California
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$37,860
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$42,810
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$37,350
- Agricultural Inspectors$60,610
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$61,320
- Forest and Conservation Workers$42,980
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do agricultural equipment operators make in California?
The average is $42,730 a year, and the median is $38,820. That is $980 (2%) less than the U.S. average of $43,710.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$20.54 an hour on average; the median is $18.66.
Where in California do they earn the most?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA ($47,520), followed by Napa, CA ($47,160). The lowest average among 17 metro areas with data is Visalia, CA ($37,970).
How does California rank?
California ranks #26 of 40 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 45-2091. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national agricultural equipment operators page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.