Agricultural Equipment Operators pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,050 or more. The middle half of agricultural equipment operators in Modesto earn between $37,430 and $45,740.
- $37K10th
- $37K25th
- $38KMedian
- $46K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,930 | $3,494 | $20.16 |
| Median | $38,320 | $3,193 | $18.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,430 | $3,119 | $18.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,740 | $3,812 | $21.99 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Agricultural Equipment Operators pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Agricultural equipment operators in Modesto earn about the same as the California average ($42,730) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($43,710). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $41,730.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $41,930 | $38,320 | $36,580 | $49,050 | 320 |
| 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 Modesto
On the average salary of $41,930, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $35,058 a year, or $2,921 a month and $1,348 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 Modesto a good place for agricultural equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $41,930 buys what about $40,275 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 11.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 8th 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
- Vallejo$41,570
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 Modesto: questions
How much do agricultural equipment operators make an hour in Modesto?
$20.16 an hour on average, and $18.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level agricultural equipment operators salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the agricultural equipment operators take-home pay in Modesto?
About $35,058 a year ($2,921 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,930. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do agricultural equipment operators earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 9.03, this job is 9.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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