Agricultural Equipment Operators pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $52,040 or more. The middle half of agricultural equipment operators in Salinas earn between $37,240 and $41,680.
- $37K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $42K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,180 | $3,432 | $19.80 |
| Median | $38,740 | $3,228 | $18.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,240 | $3,103 | $17.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $41,680 | $3,473 | $20.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Agricultural Equipment Operators pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Agricultural equipment operators in Salinas earn 4% less than the California average ($42,730) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($43,710). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $41,730.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $41,180 | $38,740 | $36,730 | $52,040 | 680 |
| California | $42,730 | $38,820 | $35,620 | $54,580 | 7,940 |
| United States | $43,710 | $41,730 | $33,500 | $58,650 | 28,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary after taxes in Salinas
On the average salary of $41,180, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $34,485 a year, or $2,874 a month and $1,326 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Salinas a good place for agricultural equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $41,180 buys what about $37,765 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 20.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 11th of 17 California metro areas for this job; Sacramento pays the most ($47,520).
- Sacramento$47,520
- Napa$47,160
- Santa Rosa$46,180
- San Luis Obispo$44,240
- Santa Maria$42,620
- El Centro$42,510
- Merced$42,050
- Modesto$41,930
- Oxnard$41,920
- Salinas$41,180
Highest-paying cities for agricultural equipment operators
Cincinnati, OH pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,160).
- Cincinnati, OH$54,160
- Minneapolis, MN$53,350
- Columbus, OH$52,240
- Lafayette, IN$51,310
- Indianapolis, IN$51,290
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Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in Salinas: questions
How much do agricultural equipment operators make an hour in Salinas?
$19.80 an hour on average, and $18.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level agricultural equipment operators salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the agricultural equipment operators take-home pay in Salinas?
About $34,485 a year ($2,874 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,180. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do agricultural equipment operators earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($43,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 45-2091; area Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 19.90, this job is 19.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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