Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in the U.S.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $53,340 a year ($25.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 41,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,230 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $59,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| 25th percentile | $45,610 | $21.93 |
| Median | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| 75th percentile | $64,720 | $31.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,230 | $44.34 |
| Average (mean) | $59,000 | $28.37 |
Half of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,445 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,222.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,051.54 |
| Weekly | $1,025.77 |
| Hourly | $25.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $111,360 | n/a |
| District of Columbia | $91,280 | 70 |
| Washington | $90,530 | 530 |
| Alaska | $83,520 | 80 |
| California | $83,130 | 1,400 |
| Connecticut | $77,480 | n/a |
| Idaho | $73,210 | 130 |
| Illinois | $73,060 | 950 |
| Missouri | $69,400 | 1,560 |
| Wisconsin | $69,020 | 960 |
| Minnesota | $68,180 | 830 |
| Oregon | $63,310 | 520 |
| Rhode Island | $63,060 | 160 |
| New York | $62,760 | 4,530 |
| New Hampshire | $62,080 | 260 |
| Iowa | $61,110 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $60,950 | 560 |
| Maryland | $60,530 | 750 |
| Ohio | $60,280 | 2,370 |
| South Dakota | $60,140 | 130 |
| Colorado | $58,810 | 920 |
| Wyoming | $58,080 | 160 |
| Maine | $57,020 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,010 | 520 |
| Montana | $55,920 | 260 |
| Vermont | $54,830 | 70 |
| Michigan | $54,220 | 1,720 |
| Delaware | $54,020 | 150 |
| Arizona | $52,140 | 170 |
| Nevada | $51,400 | n/a |
| West Virginia | $51,230 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $50,500 | 840 |
| Indiana | $50,380 | 910 |
| Kansas | $49,070 | 540 |
| Utah | $48,860 | 410 |
| Louisiana | $48,450 | 350 |
| Virginia | $48,060 | 1,660 |
| North Carolina | $47,820 | 1,940 |
| Texas | $47,060 | 3,940 |
| South Carolina | $46,950 | 630 |
| Florida | $46,840 | 2,740 |
| Oklahoma | $46,760 | 550 |
| Georgia | $46,100 | 1,270 |
| New Mexico | $45,880 | 990 |
| Nebraska | $45,760 | 390 |
| Kentucky | $45,660 | 110 |
| Arkansas | $44,010 | 490 |
| Tennessee | $42,510 | 1,730 |
| Alabama | $41,880 | 700 |
| Mississippi | $37,030 | 470 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,460 | 230 |
Best-paying metro areas for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $126,640 | 310 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $111,360 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $104,530 | 260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $96,590 | 270 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $95,510 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $93,610 | 80 |
| Anchorage, AK | $84,190 | 60 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $83,370 | 140 |
| Rochester, MN | $82,730 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $80,340 | 740 |
| Appleton, WI | $78,260 | 40 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $77,480 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $76,800 | 480 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $74,950 | 50 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $74,760 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,440 | $62,780 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 980 | $58,800 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 940 | $49,740 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 870 | $46,790 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 770 | $46,120 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 740 | $80,340 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 580 | $51,310 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 570 | $46,810 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 530 | $48,440 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 500 | $48,720 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 500 | $66,210 |
| Columbus, OH | 490 | $62,490 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 480 | $60,680 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 480 | $76,800 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 440 | $48,590 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the U.S. is $53,340 a year, or $25.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the U.S. earn at least $92,230 a year. The top 25% earn $64,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,230 a year, and a quarter of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn $45,610 or less.
How many paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators work in the U.S.?
About 41,820 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.