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

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

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

Texas is 2.5% cheaper than the US average

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

Nominal Salary
$34,260
Median annual (2025)
+2.6%
Real Purchasing Power
$35,138
COL-adjusted (RPP=97.5)

Texas Cost of Living Index

Texas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.5, meaning prices are 2.5% lower the national average. A Agricultural Equipment Operators earning $34,260 in Texas has the equivalent purchasing power of $35,138 in an average-cost US state.

TX: 97.5
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 Texas's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $24,550 $25,179 +$629
25th Percentile (P25) $29,850 $30,615 +$765
Median (P50) $34,260 $35,138 +$878
75th Percentile (P75) $37,470 $38,430 +$960
90th Percentile (P90) $44,720 $45,866 +$1,146
Key Insight

Texas's cost of living is close to the national average, so $34,260 keeps most of its value at $35,138 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Texas Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 97.5

With an RPP of 97.5, Texas 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

+2.6%

After adjusting for Texas's cost of living, $34,260 nominal nets out to $35,138 in real purchasing power — a small 2.6% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Agricultural Equipment Operators.

Bottom-Quartile COL-Adjusted Pay

#38 / 40

Texas ranks #38 of 40 — bottom quartile for Agricultural Equipment Operators real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.

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

Texas ranks #38 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 Texas after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Agricultural Equipment Operators in Texas earns a median salary of $34,260 per year. After adjusting for Texas's cost of living (RPP=97.5), the real purchasing power is $35,138 — a +2.6% difference.

Is Texas expensive to live in?

Texas's cost of living is 2.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Texas is 97.5 (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 Texas: $34,260 x (100 / 97.5) = $35,138. 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 Texas financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Agricultural Equipment Operators in Texas enjoys 2.6% 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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