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Occupational Employment Statistics


DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

45-2091 Agricultural Equipment Operators



Drive and control farm equipment to till soil and to plant, cultivate, and harvest crops. 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.

Geography Click link for Career Profile EmploymentEmp SE*Percentiles
Mean10th25thMedian75th90th
Southwest Minnesota 19019$23.25/hr$18.11/hr$18.66/hr$23.05/hr$27.19/hr$29.58/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and Mining450$24.60/hr
Manufacturing30$24.37/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities190$22.56/hr
Professional and Business Services30$25.54/hr
Education and Health Services20$22.31/hr
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Northeast Minnesota N/AN/AN/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA N/AN/AN/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Rochester MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
St Cloud MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA 60$22.40/hrN/A
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 90$27.11/hr7.2%
Southeast Minnesota 100$24.82/hr9.5%
Central Minnesota 120$24.37/hr12.6%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 120$27.11/hrN/A
Northwest Balance of State 120$23.11/hrN/A
Southeast Balance of State 130$24.33/hrN/A
Northwest Minnesota 170$24.11/hr13.6%
Southwest Balance of State 170$23.93/hrN/A
Southwest Minnesota 190$23.05/hr11.3%
Minnesota 720$24.16/hr10.9%




  • Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment.
  • Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions.
  • Position boxes or attach bags at discharge ends of machinery to catch products, removing and closing full containers.
  • Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
  • Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities.
  • Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers.
  • Weigh crop-filled containers, and record weights and other identifying information.
  • Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
  • Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps.
  • Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.