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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Agricultural Engineer expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $102,422, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $71,696 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
A career as a Agricultural Engineer sits at the intersection of Engineering and Engineering. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's degree, and the field is characterized by steady. The work itself is field/hybrid. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$113,520 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Agricultural Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $186,560 — $113,520 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($73,040). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Agricultural Engineers average $73,744, the median sits at $102,422, and senior earners pull in $145,440. That $71,696 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $22,055 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $174,240 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $73,627 (average of the bottom 3). That $100,613 delta is real money — $8,384/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Agricultural Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $186,560 — $113,520 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($73,040). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Agricultural Engineer is $73,744, while senior-level (P90) earners average $145,440. That $71,696 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Agricultural Engineers pull in an average of $145,440. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Agricultural Engineers average $73,744 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $73,744 | $102,422 | $145,440 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £40,533 | £56,296 | £79,940 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$59,340 | CA$82,417 | CA$117,032 |
| Australia | 13 | A$68,603 | A$95,282 | A$135,300 |
| Sweden | 24 | 404,986 kr | 562,481 kr | 798,722 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $89,005 | $123,618 | $175,538 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $86,011 | $119,460 | $169,633 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $85,536 | $118,800 | $168,696 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $79,200 | $110,000 | $156,200 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $78,250 | $108,680 | $154,326 |
| Washington | 8 | $76,745 | $106,590 | $151,358 |
| New York | 5 | $72,231 | $100,320 | $142,455 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $72,230 | $100,320 | $142,454 |
| Florida | 22 | $71,683 | $99,560 | $141,375 |
| Colorado | 11 | $70,445 | $97,840 | $138,933 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $70,330 | $97,680 | $138,706 |
| Nevada | 5 | $70,203 | $97,504 | $138,456 |
| Arizona | 12 | $69,854 | $97,020 | $137,768 |
| Oregon | 5 | $69,696 | $96,800 | $137,456 |
| Idaho | 3 | $69,485 | $96,507 | $137,039 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $68,936 | $95,744 | $135,956 |
| Utah | 4 | $68,746 | $95,480 | $135,582 |
| Virginia | 7 | $67,614 | $93,909 | $133,350 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $66,739 | $92,693 | $131,625 |
| Alaska | 1 | $66,528 | $92,400 | $131,208 |
| Illinois | 5 | $65,768 | $91,344 | $129,709 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $64,134 | $89,076 | $126,487 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $63,360 | $88,000 | $124,960 |
| Montana | 1 | $63,360 | $88,000 | $124,960 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $63,149 | $87,707 | $124,544 |
| Texas | 40 | $62,837 | $87,274 | $123,929 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $62,727 | $87,120 | $123,711 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $62,410 | $86,680 | $123,086 |
| Georgia | 6 | $62,198 | $86,387 | $122,669 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $62,093 | $86,240 | $122,461 |
| Kansas | 4 | $61,776 | $85,800 | $121,836 |
| Michigan | 6 | $61,565 | $85,507 | $121,420 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $60,826 | $84,480 | $119,962 |
| Maryland | 1 | $60,826 | $84,480 | $119,962 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $60,192 | $83,600 | $118,712 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $60,192 | $83,600 | $118,712 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $58,608 | $81,400 | $115,588 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $58,291 | $80,960 | $114,963 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $57,499 | $79,860 | $113,401 |
| Missouri | 4 | $57,499 | $79,860 | $113,401 |
| Alabama | 5 | $57,277 | $79,552 | $112,964 |
| Indiana | 3 | $56,390 | $78,320 | $111,214 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $56,390 | $78,320 | $111,214 |
| Iowa | 2 | $55,757 | $77,440 | $109,965 |
| Ohio | 6 | $55,651 | $77,293 | $109,756 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $53,222 | $73,920 | $104,966 |
Geography shapes Agricultural Engineer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $123,618 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($186,560 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $88,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $186,560 | 212 | $88,000 | $109,659 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $174,240 | 198 | $88,000 | $102,877 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $161,920 | 184 | $88,000 | $96,094 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $159,280 | 181 | $88,000 | $94,641 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $156,640 | 178 | $88,000 | $93,188 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $155,760 | 177 | $88,000 | $92,703 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $155,760 | 177 | $88,000 | $92,703 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $152,240 | 173 | $88,000 | $90,766 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $152,240 | 173 | $88,000 | $90,766 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $148,720 | 169 | $88,000 | $88,828 |
Career economics for Agricultural Engineers: entry level averages $73,744, mid-career hits $102,422, and experienced professionals reach $145,440. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's degree, and the work is field/hybrid. The outlook: steady. That's a meaningful difference in take-home pay — not just a rounding error.
The weighted national median salary for Agricultural Engineers is $102,422 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $73,744, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $145,440.
The highest-paying city for Agricultural Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $186,560. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($186,560), Santa Clara ($174,240), Irvine ($161,920). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Agricultural Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $73,040. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Agricultural Engineers (10th percentile) average $73,744 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $134,323. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Agricultural Engineers average $145,440 nationally — $71,696 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Agricultural Engineers can earn up to $264,915.
The top-paying states for Agricultural Engineers are California ($123,618 median), Massachusetts ($119,460 median), Hawaii ($118,800 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Agricultural Engineer involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically field/hybrid.
With a national median of $102,422 and representation across 288 metro areas, Agricultural Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $71,696 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.