How much does a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator make?
The median paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator in the United States earns $53,340 per year, about $25.64 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 47-2071.
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator salary range
Pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $38,230 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $92,230. The average (mean) wage of $59,000 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,230 | $18.38 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $45,610 | $21.93 | |
| Median (50th) | $53,340 | $25.64 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $64,720 | $31.12 | |
| 90th percentile | $92,230 | $44.34 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (SOC 47-2071), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn the most in Hawaii at $111,360 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $37,030. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
State median wages for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (SOC 47-2071), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
The BLS projects employment of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.9%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 42,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 41,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,100 openings a year for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator
The typical entry-level education for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator earns
Experience, licensing, certifications, region, and overtime move these numbers the most. A licensed, experienced worker in a high cost metro or a strong union market lands near the top of the range, while apprentices and workers in rural areas start closer to the bottom.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $111,360) and the lowest (Mississippi, $37,030) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 41,820 people work as paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the United States. At $53,340 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator salary FAQ
How much does a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator is $25.64. The middle half of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn between $21.93 and $31.12 per hour.
What is the highest paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn more than $92,230 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator make a year?
The median annual salary for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator is $53,340. The average (mean) wage of $59,000 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator a well paid job?
At $53,340 a year, a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 41,820 people work as paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the United States.
Which state pays paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators at $111,360 a year. District of Columbia ($91,280) and Washington ($90,530) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator a good career?
Employment of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators is projected to shrink 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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