SOC 472071

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.

National Median

$51,650

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$51,650

Entry Level (10th pct)

$38,030

Experienced (90th pct)

$90,110

Total Employed

45,680

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$38,030 - $44,740
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$44,740 - $66,060
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$66,060 - $90,110

Highest Paying Locations for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

$123,470

+139.1% vs national

Urban Honolulu, HI

$108,570

+110.2% vs national

Hawaii

$108,570

+110.2% vs national

Champaign-Urbana, IL

$98,730

+91.2% vs national

Anchorage, AK

$97,670

+89.1% vs national

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$123,470	360
Urban Honolulu, HI	$108,570	N/A
Hawaii	$108,570	N/A
Champaign-Urbana, IL	$98,730	40
Anchorage, AK	$97,670	70
Alaska	$97,670	100
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$95,430	340
Fort Wayne, IN	$93,070	50
Appleton, WI	$89,810	90
St. Joseph, MO-KS	$83,980	90
Eau Claire, WI	$83,620	40
Green Bay, WI	$83,170	50
Madison, WI	$83,160	110
Duluth, MN-WI	$83,090	100
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$80,510	230
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area	$79,740	120
California	$79,460	1,920
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$79,460	320
Wisconsin	$79,440	1,480
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	$79,090	50
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area	$78,620	380
Washington	$77,180	390
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area	$76,970	80
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$76,810	590
Rochester, MN	$76,590	40
St. Louis, MO-IL	$76,400	590
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$75,230	30
Columbus, OH	$74,900	370
Missouri	$70,520	1,550
Kansas City, MO-KS	$70,520	610
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$70,440	120
District of Columbia	$70,030	180
Jefferson City, MO	$69,990	100
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$69,840	1,060
Springfield, IL	$69,780	50
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area	$69,520	40
Minnesota	$68,920	1,130
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$66,130	100
Illinois	$66,130	1,300
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area	$65,550	50
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$64,720	N/A
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$64,250	160
Cleveland, OH	$63,950	370
New York	$63,860	4,200
Rochester, NY	$63,860	210
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$63,410	570
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$63,230	200
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$63,110	40
Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area	$63,020	60
Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area	$63,000	40

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators?

The national median annual salary for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators is $51,650, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operatorss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operatorss is Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, with a median salary of $123,470.

How much can an experienced Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators make?

Top-earning Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operatorss (90th percentile) make $90,110 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.