47 Series · SOC 47-2071
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $53,340
- Median / year
- $92,230
- Top 10% earn
- +3.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 41,820
- US workers
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators earn a median of $53,340 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $53,340, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $38,230 (10th percentile) to $92,230 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 41,820 US workers. Hawaii pays the most ($111,360), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators earn a median of $53,340, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 39% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #37 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.2% by 2033.
- $53,340
- Median annual wage
- Top 61%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #37 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 2.4×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Hawaii at $111,360. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2071) pays a national median of $53,340 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $38,230 at the 10th percentile to $92,230 at the 90th, with a mean of $59,000 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 41,820 Americans work in this occupation across 51 reporting states and 218 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 4,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 12.4 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Hawaii pays the highest state median at $111,360, which is +109% above the national figure. The top metro is Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA at $126,640 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$53,340
per year
Median Hourly
$25.64/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$59,000
average
Employment
41,820
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$53,340 Bottom 39% higher than 39% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 47-series occupations with growth data, Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators sits on the slower-growing side at +3.2% growth and $53,340 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.2%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
4,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
12.4/100K
Injury Rate
3.5/100
Danger Index
20.2/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
- ▸ Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
- ▸ Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
- ▸ Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
- ▸ Coordinate truck dumping.
- ▸ Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.
- ▸ Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors.
- ▸ Set up and tear down equipment.
- ▸ Operate machines to spread, smooth, level, or steel-reinforce stone, concrete, or asphalt on road beds.
- ▸ Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$38,230
25th Percentile
$45,610
Median
$53,340
75th Percentile
$64,720
90th Percentile
$92,230
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 51 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $111,360 | +109% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $91,280 | +71% above national |
| 3 | Washington | $90,530 | +70% above national |
| 4 | Alaska | $83,520 | +57% above national |
| 5 | California | $83,130 | +56% above national |
| 6 | Connecticut | $77,480 | +45% above national |
| 7 | Idaho | $73,210 | +37% above national |
| 8 | Illinois | $73,060 | +37% above national |
| 9 | Missouri | $69,400 | +30% above national |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $69,020 | +29% above national |
| 11 | Minnesota | $68,180 | +28% above national |
| 12 | Oregon | $63,310 | +19% above national |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $63,060 | +18% above national |
| 14 | New York | $62,760 | +18% above national |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $62,080 | +16% above national |
| 16 | Iowa | $61,110 | +15% above national |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $60,950 | +14% above national |
| 18 | Maryland | $60,530 | +13% above national |
| 19 | Ohio | $60,280 | +13% above national |
| 20 | South Dakota | $60,140 | +13% above national |
| 21 | Colorado | $58,810 | +10% above national |
| 22 | Wyoming | $58,080 | +9% above national |
| 23 | Maine | $57,020 | +7% above national |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $56,010 | +5% above national |
| 25 | Montana | $55,920 | +5% above national |
| 26 | Vermont | $54,830 | +3% above national |
| 27 | Michigan | $54,220 | +2% above national |
| 28 | Delaware | $54,020 | +1% above national |
| 29 | Arizona | $52,140 | 2% below national |
| 30 | Nevada | $51,400 | 4% below national |
| 31 | West Virginia | $51,230 | 4% below national |
| 32 | New Jersey | $50,500 | 5% below national |
| 33 | Indiana | $50,380 | 6% below national |
| 34 | Kansas | $49,070 | 8% below national |
| 35 | Utah | $48,860 | 8% below national |
| 36 | Louisiana | $48,450 | 9% below national |
| 37 | Virginia | $48,060 | 10% below national |
| 38 | North Carolina | $47,820 | 10% below national |
| 39 | Texas | $47,060 | 12% below national |
| 40 | South Carolina | $46,950 | 12% below national |
| 41 | Florida | $46,840 | 12% below national |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $46,760 | 12% below national |
| 43 | Georgia | $46,100 | 14% below national |
| 44 | New Mexico | $45,880 | 14% below national |
| 45 | Nebraska | $45,760 | 14% below national |
| 46 | Kentucky | $45,660 | 14% below national |
| 47 | Arkansas | $44,010 | 17% below national |
| 48 | Tennessee | $42,510 | 20% below national |
| 49 | Alabama | $41,880 | 21% below national |
| 50 | Mississippi | $37,030 | 31% below national |
| 51 | Puerto Rico | $29,460 | 45% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 218 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $126,640 | +137% above national |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $111,360 | +109% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $104,530 | +96% above national |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $96,590 | +81% above national |
| 5 | Fort Wayne, IN | $95,510 | +79% above national |
| 6 | Madison, WI | $93,610 | +75% above national |
| 7 | Anchorage, AK | $84,190 | +58% above national |
| 8 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $83,370 | +56% above national |
| 9 | Rochester, MN | $82,730 | +55% above national |
| 10 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $81,360 | +53% above national |
| 11 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $80,340 | +51% above national |
| 12 | Appleton, WI | $78,260 | +47% above national |
| 13 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $77,480 | +45% above national |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $76,800 | +44% above national |
| 15 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $76,490 | +43% above national |
| 16 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $75,840 | +42% above national |
| 17 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $74,950 | +41% above national |
| 18 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $74,760 | +40% above national |
| 19 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $72,920 | +37% above national |
| 20 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,080 | +35% above national |
| 21 | Springfield, IL | $71,670 | +34% above national |
| 22 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $70,530 | +32% above national |
| 23 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $68,520 | +28% above national |
| 24 | Duluth, MN-WI | $68,180 | +28% above national |
| 25 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $68,080 | +28% above national |
| 26 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $66,210 | +24% above national |
| 27 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $66,160 | +24% above national |
| 28 | Baton Rouge, LA | $65,610 | +23% above national |
| 29 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $65,420 | +23% above national |
| 30 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $65,370 | +23% above national |
| 31 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $64,870 | +22% above national |
| 32 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $64,820 | +22% above national |
| 33 | Albany, OR | $64,690 | +21% above national |
| 34 | Greeley, CO | $64,050 | +20% above national |
| 35 | Akron, OH | $64,000 | +20% above national |
| 36 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $63,710 | +19% above national |
| 37 | Reno, NV | $63,550 | +19% above national |
| 38 | Yakima, WA | $63,160 | +18% above national |
| 39 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $63,050 | +18% above national |
| 40 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $62,900 | +18% above national |
| 41 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $62,780 | +18% above national |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $62,490 | +17% above national |
| 43 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $62,460 | +17% above national |
| 44 | Bend, OR | $62,180 | +17% above national |
| 45 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $62,140 | +16% above national |
| 46 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $62,080 | +16% above national |
| 47 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $61,810 | +16% above national |
| 48 | Utica-Rome, NY | $61,780 | +16% above national |
| 49 | Salem, OR | $61,210 | +15% above national |
| 50 | Jefferson City, MO | $60,850 | +14% above national |
| 51 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $60,680 | +14% above national |
| 52 | Cleveland, OH | $60,320 | +13% above national |
| 53 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $60,060 | +13% above national |
| 54 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $59,910 | +12% above national |
| 55 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $59,800 | +12% above national |
| 56 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $59,780 | +12% above national |
| 57 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $59,620 | +12% above national |
| 58 | Lancaster, PA | $59,160 | +11% above national |
| 59 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $59,100 | +11% above national |
| 60 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $59,030 | +11% above national |
| 61 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $58,840 | +10% above national |
| 62 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $58,800 | +10% above national |
| 63 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $58,630 | +10% above national |
| 64 | Syracuse, NY | $58,350 | +9% above national |
| 65 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $58,120 | +9% above national |
| 66 | Toledo, OH | $58,080 | +9% above national |
| 67 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $57,910 | +9% above national |
| 68 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $57,880 | +9% above national |
| 69 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $57,820 | +8% above national |
| 70 | Cheyenne, WY | $57,680 | +8% above national |
| 71 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $57,620 | +8% above national |
| 72 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $57,510 | +8% above national |
| 73 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $57,260 | +7% above national |
| 74 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $57,140 | +7% above national |
| 75 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $56,980 | +7% above national |
| 76 | Rochester, NY | $56,530 | +6% above national |
| 77 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $55,710 | +4% above national |
| 78 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $55,690 | +4% above national |
| 79 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $55,590 | +4% above national |
| 80 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $55,400 | +4% above national |
| 81 | Colorado Springs, CO | $54,830 | +3% above national |
| 82 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $54,810 | +3% above national |
| 83 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $54,800 | +3% above national |
| 84 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $54,320 | +2% above national |
| 85 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $54,220 | +2% above national |
| 86 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $54,130 | +1% above national |
| 87 | Lincoln, NE | $52,790 | 1% below national |
| 88 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $52,660 | 1% below national |
| 89 | Binghamton, NY | $52,000 | 3% below national |
| 90 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $51,470 | 4% below national |
| 91 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $51,400 | 4% below national |
| 92 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $51,310 | 4% below national |
| 93 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $51,000 | 4% below national |
| 94 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $50,860 | 5% below national |
| 95 | Asheville, NC | $50,720 | 5% below national |
| 96 | Bozeman, MT | $50,650 | 5% below national |
| 97 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $50,640 | 5% below national |
| 98 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $50,530 | 5% below national |
| 99 | Evansville, IN | $50,420 | 5% below national |
| 100 | Green Bay, WI | $50,390 | 6% below national |
| 101 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $50,390 | 6% below national |
| 102 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $50,280 | 6% below national |
| 103 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $50,280 | 6% below national |
| 104 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $50,070 | 6% below national |
| 105 | Santa Fe, NM | $50,040 | 6% below national |
| 106 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $49,920 | 6% below national |
| 107 | Richmond, VA | $49,880 | 6% below national |
| 108 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $49,850 | 7% below national |
| 109 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $49,740 | 7% below national |
| 110 | Odessa, TX | $49,700 | 7% below national |
| 111 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,610 | 7% below national |
| 112 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $49,450 | 7% below national |
| 113 | Winston-Salem, NC | $49,250 | 8% below national |
| 114 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $49,120 | 8% below national |
| 115 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $49,110 | 8% below national |
| 116 | Battle Creek, MI | $49,050 | 8% below national |
| 117 | Billings, MT | $48,890 | 8% below national |
| 118 | Huntsville, AL | $48,840 | 8% below national |
| 119 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $48,840 | 8% below national |
| 120 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $48,750 | 9% below national |
| 121 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $48,720 | 9% below national |
| 122 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $48,590 | 9% below national |
| 123 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,440 | 9% below national |
| 124 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $48,370 | 9% below national |
| 125 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,280 | 9% below national |
| 126 | Vineland, NJ | $48,250 | 10% below national |
| 127 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,190 | 10% below national |
| 128 | Oklahoma City, OK | $48,110 | 10% below national |
| 129 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $48,050 | 10% below national |
| 130 | Birmingham, AL | $48,030 | 10% below national |
| 131 | Fayetteville, NC | $47,820 | 10% below national |
| 132 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $47,730 | 11% below national |
| 133 | Roanoke, VA | $47,620 | 11% below national |
| 134 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $47,610 | 11% below national |
| 135 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $47,540 | 11% below national |
| 136 | Winchester, VA-WV | $47,530 | 11% below national |
| 137 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,420 | 11% below national |
| 138 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,390 | 11% below national |
| 139 | Lubbock, TX | $47,340 | 11% below national |
| 140 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $47,340 | 11% below national |
| 141 | Jacksonville, FL | $47,300 | 11% below national |
| 142 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $47,230 | 11% below national |
| 143 | Wilmington, NC | $47,160 | 12% below national |
| 144 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $47,050 | 12% below national |
| 145 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $47,040 | 12% below national |
| 146 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $46,970 | 12% below national |
| 147 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $46,960 | 12% below national |
| 148 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,940 | 12% below national |
| 149 | Springfield, MO | $46,860 | 12% below national |
| 150 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $46,830 | 12% below national |
| 151 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $46,810 | 12% below national |
| 152 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,790 | 12% below national |
| 153 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,790 | 12% below national |
| 154 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $46,730 | 12% below national |
| 155 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $46,550 | 13% below national |
| 156 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $46,550 | 13% below national |
| 157 | Jackson, MS | $46,430 | 13% below national |
| 158 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $46,390 | 13% below national |
| 159 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,320 | 13% below national |
| 160 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,280 | 13% below national |
| 161 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $46,270 | 13% below national |
| 162 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $46,260 | 13% below national |
| 163 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,130 | 14% below national |
| 164 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $46,120 | 14% below national |
| 165 | Ogden, UT | $46,120 | 14% below national |
| 166 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,040 | 14% below national |
| 167 | Columbia, SC | $45,960 | 14% below national |
| 168 | Gainesville, FL | $45,930 | 14% below national |
| 169 | Wichita, KS | $45,900 | 14% below national |
| 170 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $45,760 | 14% below national |
| 171 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $45,720 | 14% below national |
| 172 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $45,710 | 14% below national |
| 173 | Lawton, OK | $45,660 | 14% below national |
| 174 | Albuquerque, NM | $45,550 | 15% below national |
| 175 | Las Cruces, NM | $45,450 | 15% below national |
| 176 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $45,260 | 15% below national |
| 177 | Waco, TX | $45,230 | 15% below national |
| 178 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,110 | 15% below national |
| 179 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $45,000 | 16% below national |
| 180 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $44,760 | 16% below national |
| 181 | Omaha, NE-IA | $44,720 | 16% below national |
| 182 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $44,680 | 16% below national |
| 183 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $44,180 | 17% below national |
| 184 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,860 | 18% below national |
| 185 | Savannah, GA | $43,790 | 18% below national |
| 186 | Farmington, NM | $43,780 | 18% below national |
| 187 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $43,450 | 19% below national |
| 188 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $42,700 | 20% below national |
| 189 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $42,640 | 20% below national |
| 190 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $42,460 | 20% below national |
| 191 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $42,010 | 21% below national |
| 192 | Knoxville, TN | $40,540 | 24% below national |
| 193 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $40,430 | 24% below national |
| 194 | Montgomery, AL | $40,000 | 25% below national |
| 195 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $39,540 | 26% below national |
| 196 | Corpus Christi, TX | $39,360 | 26% below national |
| 197 | El Paso, TX | $39,340 | 26% below national |
| 198 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $39,130 | 27% below national |
| 199 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $39,120 | 27% below national |
| 200 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $38,950 | 27% below national |
| 201 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $38,510 | 28% below national |
| 202 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $38,250 | 28% below national |
| 203 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $38,050 | 29% below national |
| 204 | Tyler, TX | $37,640 | 29% below national |
| 205 | Tallahassee, FL | $37,440 | 30% below national |
| 206 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | 30% below national |
| 207 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | 30% below national |
| 208 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $37,400 | 30% below national |
| 209 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $37,340 | 30% below national |
| 210 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $37,210 | 30% below national |
| 211 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,020 | 31% below national |
| 212 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $36,660 | 31% below national |
| 213 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $36,380 | 32% below national |
| 214 | Cleveland, TN | $35,940 | 33% below national |
| 215 | Johnson City, TN | $35,710 | 33% below national |
| 216 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $35,350 | 34% below national |
| 217 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $31,600 | 41% below national |
| 218 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $30,190 | 43% below national |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $64,720/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Hawaii leads at $111,360/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.