How much does a farm machine operator make?
a year · about $20 an hour
A typical farm machine operator in the United States makes $41,730 a year, about $20 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They drive a tractor or combine to till fields, plant crops, or harvest them. They may check or repair equipment and attach tools like plows or sprayers for the next job.
Did you know? One surprising U.S. fact: 84% of surveyed farm machine operators report working more than 40 hours a week.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $33,500 and $58,650How do you become one?
In the U.S., a high school diploma or GED is usual, and farm or heavy-equipment experience can help. Most learn on the job, with training ranging from a few days to a year.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experienced operators and workers with sought-after skills may earn more than beginners. Pay can also differ by employer or industry, location, and how difficult or responsible the work is.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Minnesota ($48,520), lowest in Texas ($34,260).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $33,500 | $41,730 | $58,650 | about 29,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $48,520 | about 900 |
| Iowa | $47,220 | about 2,000 |
| Ohio | $47,220 | about 600 |
| Wisconsin | $47,100 | about 830 |
| Nebraska | $46,670 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities such as tilling soil; planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops; feeding and herding livestock; or removing animal waste. May perform tasks such as crop baling or hay bucking. May operate stationary equipment to perform post-harvest tasks such as husking, shelling, threshing, and ginning.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/45-2091.00
- www.bls.gov/ooh/Farming-Fishing-and-Forestry/Agricultural-workers.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes452091.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY