Agricultural Equipment Operators pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,150 or more. The middle half of agricultural equipment operators in Columbia earn between $31,680 and $36,570.
- $32K10th
- $32K25th
- $32KMedian
- $37K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,810 | $2,818 | $16.25 |
| Median | $31,820 | $2,652 | $15.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,680 | $2,640 | $15.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,570 | $3,048 | $17.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Agricultural Equipment Operators pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Agricultural equipment operators in Columbia earn 5% less than the South Carolina average ($35,760) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($43,710). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $41,730.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $33,810 | $31,820 | $31,680 | $39,150 | 200 |
| South Carolina | $35,760 | $34,490 | $29,370 | $46,180 | 380 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $33,810, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $28,972 a year, or $2,414 a month and $1,114 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for agricultural equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $33,810 buys what about $36,098 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Charlotte, NC$39,020
- Atlanta, GA$43,430
- Albany, GA$33,940
- Dothan, AL$38,290
- Cincinnati, OH$54,160
- Columbus, OH$52,240
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 Columbia: questions
How much do agricultural equipment operators make an hour in Columbia?
$16.25 an hour on average, and $15.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level agricultural equipment operators salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the agricultural equipment operators take-home pay in Columbia?
About $28,972 a year ($2,414 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,810.
Do agricultural equipment operators earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.73, this job is 2.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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