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

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

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

Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US average

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

Nominal Salary
$47,890
Median annual (2025)
-2.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$46,904
COL-adjusted (RPP=102.1)

Virginia Cost of Living Index

Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Agricultural Equipment Operators earning $47,890 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $46,904 in an average-cost US state.

VA: 102.1
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 Virginia's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $39,780 $38,961 $-818
25th Percentile (P25) $44,240 $43,330 $-909
Median (P50) $47,890 $46,904 $-985
75th Percentile (P75) $54,740 $53,614 $-1,125
90th Percentile (P90) $60,910 $59,657 $-1,252
Key Insight

Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $47,890 keeps most of its value at $46,904 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Virginia Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 102.1

With an RPP of 102.1, Virginia 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

-2.1%

After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living, $47,890 nominal nets out to $46,905 in real purchasing power — a small 2.1% loss. 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

#16 / 40

Virginia sits at #16 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

Virginia ranks #16 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 Virginia after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Agricultural Equipment Operators in Virginia earns a median salary of $47,890 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $46,904 — a -2.1% difference.

Is Virginia expensive to live in?

Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (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 Virginia: $47,890 x (100 / 102.1) = $46,904. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Does the high cost of living in Virginia offset the salary?

Partially — a Agricultural Equipment Operators's nominal salary of $47,890 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $46,904. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.

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