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Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary in Minnesota: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Agricultural Equipment Operators salary really buy you in Minnesota?

Minnesota is 2.3% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$48,520
Median annual (2025)
+2.4%
Real Purchasing Power
$49,662
COL-adjusted (RPP=97.7)

Minnesota Cost of Living Index

Minnesota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.7, meaning prices are 2.3% lower the national average. A Agricultural Equipment Operators earning $48,520 in Minnesota has the equivalent purchasing power of $49,662 in an average-cost US state.

MN: 97.7
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $38,630 $39,539 +$909
25th Percentile (P25) $45,260 $46,325 +$1,065
Median (P50) $48,520 $49,662 +$1,142
75th Percentile (P75) $54,490 $55,772 +$1,282
90th Percentile (P90) $59,720 $61,125 +$1,405
Key Insight

Minnesota's cost of living is close to the national average, so $48,520 keeps most of its value at $49,662 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Minnesota Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 97.7

With an RPP of 97.7, Minnesota is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Agricultural Equipment Operators is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

+2.4%

After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living, $48,520 nominal nets out to $49,662 in real purchasing power — a small 2.4% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Agricultural Equipment Operators.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#13 / 40

Minnesota sits at #13 of 40 states for Agricultural Equipment Operators COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Agricultural Equipment Operators (After Cost of Living)

Where does Agricultural Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Montana
$65,083
RPP 90.3
$64,591
RPP 90.6
$54,613
RPP 88.0
$54,205
RPP 88.7
5. Iowa
$53,416
RPP 88.4
$51,971
RPP 89.8
7. Ohio
$51,606
RPP 91.5
$51,031
RPP 91.1
$51,029
RPP 92.3
10. Delaware
$50,928
RPP 98.0

Minnesota ranks #13 out of 40 states for Agricultural Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Agricultural Equipment Operators take-home pay in Minnesota after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Agricultural Equipment Operators in Minnesota after cost of living?

A Agricultural Equipment Operators in Minnesota earns a median salary of $48,520 per year. After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (RPP=97.7), the real purchasing power is $49,662 — a +2.4% difference.

Is Minnesota expensive to live in?

Minnesota's cost of living is 2.3% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Minnesota is 97.7 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Agricultural Equipment Operators in Minnesota: $48,520 x (100 / 97.7) = $49,662. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Agricultural Equipment Operators in Minnesota financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Agricultural Equipment Operators in Minnesota enjoys 2.4% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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