Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator Salary Information in California

The average annual salaries for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the state of California are shown in Table 1. The comparison of the salary statistics of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators amongst California metropolitan areas is shown in Table 2. The salary statistics are based on the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1 & 2. Annual Salary of Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in California (2022 Survey)

Percentile bracketAverage annual salary
10th Percentile Wage
$45,050
25th Percentile Wage
$50,130
50th Percentile Wage
$64,840
75th Percentile Wage
$84,330
90th Percentile Wage
$102,370

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in California in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is $102,370. The median (50th percentile) annual salary is $64,840. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $45,050.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$64,840
-4.18% 19.52%
2021
$67,550
10.78% -
2020
$60,270
10.45% -
2019
$53,970
-1.74% -
2018
$54,910
-1.20% -
2017
$55,570
0.14% -
2016
$55,490
1.46% -
2015
$54,680
8.65% -
2014
$49,950
0.38% -
2013
$49,760
-4.86% -
2012
$52,180
- -

Table 3. Median Annual Salary of Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in California Cities (2022 Survey)

Table 3 shows the median annual salary of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in some California cities and metropolitan areas. We note that the median annual salary of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in state of California ranges from $30,610 to $85,450. The highest paying area for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in California is Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville with a median annual salary of $85,450. The second highest paying city/area in California State is Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura (mean annual salary $80,640). The lowest paying area is Chico with a median annual salary of $30,610.

Cities/Areas Median Annual Salary
Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville
$85,450
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
$80,640
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City
$78,090
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
$76,610
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
$73,630
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
$70,070
Stockton
$68,770
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
$67,240
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos
$63,170
Fresno
$63,040
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
$62,630
Modesto
$61,240
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
$60,550
Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$54,110
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
$53,930
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward
$53,370
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine
$52,480
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$51,060
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana
$51,010
Bakersfield-Delano
$50,010
North Valley Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$49,950
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta
$49,950
Salinas
$49,940
Redding
$49,470
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
$48,010
Napa
$47,630
Eastern Sierra Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$47,410
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$47,160
Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$45,670
Visalia-Porterville
$44,630
Chico
$30,610