How to hire a farm equipment operator

How to hire a farm equipment operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step farm equipment operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a farm equipment operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new farm equipment operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your farm equipment operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a farm equipment operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect farm equipment operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents farm equipment operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Farm Equipment Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Farm Equipment Operator	Agricultural workers maintain the quality of farms, crops, and livestock by operating machinery and doing physical labor under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.	$10-16
   Farm Labour	Also called agricultural workers, farm laborers are people who inspect and harvest crops. The workers irrigate soil on the farm and maintain their pumps, pipes, or ditches... Show more	$10-15
   Farm Worker	A farmworker is responsible for applying fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides to crops and livestock. You will operate agricultural machinery under the direction of a rancher, farmer, or an agricultural manager... Show more	$10-15

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Harvest
   • CDL
   • Mowing
   • GPS
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Equipment Maintenance
   • Disc
   • Augers
   • Construction Equipment
   • End Loaders
   • Semi Trucks
   • General Maintenance
   • Bobcat
   • John Deere

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and conduct the baling, hauling, advertising, and selling of 2000 straw square bales a year from 2002-2006.
   • Operate combines, grain trucks, tractors, cultivator, and augers.
   • Landscape work (leaf pickup, lawn mowing, weed spraying, repairing fencing, etc . )
   • Utilize GPS while planting grain.
   • Used GPS to navigate farm equipment.
   • Use of tractor for raking and baling.

   More farm equipment operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your farm equipment operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A farm equipment operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, farm equipment operators' average salary in louisiana is 58% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level farm equipment operators 40% less than senior-level farm equipment operators.
   • Certifications. A farm equipment operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a farm equipment operator's salary.

   Average farm equipment operator salary

   $13.40hourly

   $27,872 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level farm equipment operator salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average farm equipment operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	South Dakota	$36,289	$17
   2	New York	$35,375	$17
   3	California	$32,494	$16
   4	Idaho	$30,094	$14
   5	Vermont	$28,100	$14
   6	Kansas	$27,930	$13
   7	Colorado	$27,374	$13
   8	Arizona	$26,461	$13
   9	Arkansas	$20,185	$10
   10	Louisiana	$17,818	$9

   Average farm equipment operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Wonderful Company	$32,989	$15.86	5
   2	Peterson Farms	$28,420	$13.66
   3	University of Idaho	$28,343	$13.63	3
   4	Spec's	$27,774	$13.35	2
   5	Taylor Farms	$27,437	$13.19
   6	Pictsweet Farms	$27,065	$13.01	2
   7	Denali Water Solutions	$26,516	$12.75	12
   8	Larsen Farms	$26,321	$12.65
   9	University of Vermont	$26,064	$12.53	4

4. Writing a farm equipment operator job description

   A farm equipment operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a farm equipment operator job description:

   Farm equipment operator job description example

   RES is looking for applicants with prior experience in agricultural, nursery, or landscaping operations. Position is full time and year-round with hours ranging from 40-50 hrs/week depending on season. Weekend work a possibility but not frequent.
   What your day-to-day might look like? Field operations during the growing season (April-November) Tractor operation - cultivation, herbicide application, transplanting, tillage, mowing, etc. Combine harvest Hand harvest Detailed data collection and recordkeeping Equipment maintenance/repair Truck/trailer hauling of equipment Some crew supervision Winter work (November-March) Seed refining - may involve a move to second shift Seed cleaning on various stationary seed refining equipment Detailed recordkeeping Equipment fabrication/maintenance Qualifications
   Required:
   High School diploma or equivalent Valid driver's license required. Ability to think quickly and adapt to constantly changing conditions Team player- able to operate and adapt within a team Experience driving large pick-up trucks and hauling trailers Experience with the following machinery: Small to medium sized tractors (40-125hp) ATV's and Gators Preferred:
   Native plant ID Spanish language skills Experience with repair and maintenance of small engines and equipment is a strong plus Class A commercial driver's license
   Physical Requirements:
   
   Willing and able to perform and comply with the following items:
   Strict adherence to safety protocols, including proper PPE requirements Ability to lift or carry up to 50 pounds Ability to work outside in harsh and under adverse weather conditions including heat, cold, rain, snow, and exposure to insects including ticks and mosquitoes. Exposure to poisonous plants such as poison ivy. Ability to walk on uneven ground Ability to undertake field work that includes, operating ATVs, tractors, skid steers, and trucks with trailers Ability to safely operate chainsaws and gas-powered brush cutters & augers
   VEVRAA Federal Contractor
   
   RES is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find farm equipment operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any farm equipment operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level farm equipment operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   To find farm equipment operator candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as ag hires, farm job, farming work , joe produce, picking jobs.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with farm equipment operator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new farm equipment operator

   Once you've selected the best farm equipment operator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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