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Hired machinery operator wage: custom rates by state
Hourly wage for hired labor operating machinery. Rates are per hour.
States with data
2
Iowa, Ohio
Lowest survey average
$22.95
Iowa (2026)
Highest survey average
$24.45
Iowa (2026)
Survey averages, not quotes. These are averages of what people reported in extension surveys. Use them as a starting point for a conversation, not as a price. Survey years differ (2026); values are not adjusted for inflation or diesel prices.
| State · survey wording | Average | Range | Responses | Median / mode | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa 2026 Farm labor wage for operating machinery - Spraying or harvesting |
$24.45/hour | $15.00 – $40.00 | 81 | median $25.00 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Iowa 2026 Farm labor wage for operating machinery - Other operations |
$22.95/hour | $15.00 – $40.00 | 105 | median $22.00 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Ohio 2026 Farm labor - Machinery Operation |
$23.98/hour | $12.00 – $40.00 | 54 | median $25.00 | PDF p. 8 · calculate |
Minnesota and Illinois: no state survey, so they are not listed or counted separately. Iowa’s 2026 rate above is often used as a reference there.
Bar: shaded = published range, dark tick = average (scaled to the highest value on this page). “Few responses” = fewer than 5.
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What’s included and how ranges differ
- Iowa: Range excludes the single lowest and single highest response.
- Ohio: Range is the minimum and maximum reported.
All included surveys say their rates cover fuel and the operator unless otherwise noted; rental items exclude them.
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