Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in Illinois
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Illinois earn a median of $73,060 a year ($35.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 950 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,720 for the top 10%. That is 37% higher than the national median of $53,340. Illinois ranks 8th of 50 states for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators pay. There are 0.16 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $77,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| 25th percentile | $56,000 | $26.92 |
| Median | $73,060 | $35.13 |
| 75th percentile | $102,240 | $49.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,720 | $49.39 |
| Average (mean) | $77,180 | $37.11 |
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 | $6,088.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,044.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,810 |
| Weekly | $1,405 |
| Hourly | $35.13 |
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 in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $80,340 | 740 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $76,800 | 480 |
| Springfield, IL | $71,670 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $111,360 |
| District of Columbia | $91,280 |
| Washington | $90,530 |
| Alaska | $83,520 |
| California | $83,130 |
| Connecticut | $77,480 |
| Idaho | $73,210 |
| Illinois | $73,060 |
| Missouri | $69,400 |
| Wisconsin | $69,020 |
See Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay in every state.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Electrician | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Carpenter | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $99,950 | $48.05 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $78,170 | $37.58 |
| Roofer | $77,900 | $37.45 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $86,630 | $41.65 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $101,850 | $48.97 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $89,980 | $43.26 |
| Glazier | $61,840 | $29.73 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $69,880 | $33.60 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $100,400 | $48.27 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Illinois is $73,060 a year, or $35.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Illinois?
The top 10% of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Illinois earn at least $102,720 a year. The top 25% earn $102,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,800 a year, and a quarter of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn $56,000 or less.
How many paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators work in Illinois?
About 950 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.