Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in Madison, WI
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $93,610 a year ($45.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,620 for the top 10%. That is 75% higher than the national median of $53,340. Pay here is 36% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $69,020. There are 0.20 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $81,540, close to the median.
Pay range for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,710 | $25.82 |
| 25th percentile | $63,920 | $30.73 |
| Median | $93,610 | $45.01 |
| 75th percentile | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Average (mean) | $81,540 | $39.20 |
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 | $7,800.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,900.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,600.38 |
| Weekly | $1,800.19 |
| Hourly | $45.01 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $83,370 | 140 |
| Appleton, WI | $78,260 | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,080 | 330 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $68,180 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $50,390 | 40 |
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 or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $57,000 | $27.40 |
| Carpenter | $63,480 | $30.52 |
| Electrician | $78,430 | $37.71 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $85,160 | $40.94 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $83,060 | $39.93 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $65,910 | $31.69 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $56,490 | $27.16 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Roofer | $60,820 | $29.24 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $63,500 | $30.53 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $82,420 | $39.62 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| Glazier | $82,480 | $39.65 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $92,460 | $44.45 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the Madison, WI metro area is $93,610 a year, or $45.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $93,620 a year. The top 25% earn $93,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,710 a year, and a quarter of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn $63,920 or less.
How many paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators work in Madison, WI?
About 80 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.