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Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator Salary in U.S.

The salary statistics of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators are shown in Table 1. In the next few tables we compare the average salaries of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators within different industry sectors and in the 50 states of the United States. The paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators annual salary statistics are from the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator Salary in U.S. (2022 survey)

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$33,980
25th Percentile Wage
$38,760
50th Percentile Wage
$47,270
75th Percentile Wage
$60,790
90th Percentile Wage
$82,040

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators is $82,040. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $47,270. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $33,980. We note that in the United States, the annual salary of the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is almost 141% higher than that of the bottom 10 percent.

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
$47,270
0.66% 24.18%
2021
$46,960
11.54% -
2020
$41,540
3.39% -
2019
$40,130
0.87% -
2018
$39,780
1.66% -
2017
$39,120
0.38% -
2016
$38,970
1.80% -
2015
$38,270
-1.02% -
2014
$38,660
2.28% -
2013
$37,780
5.13% -
2012
$35,840
- -

Table 2. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator Salary by Industry Sector (2022 survey)

The average salaries of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in 15 major industry sectors are shown in Table 2. We note that the salaries vary considerably within different industry sectors. The highest paying industry sector for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators occupations is the utilities sector with an annual salary $78,510. The lowest paying sector is the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector (annual salary $28,950).

Industry Sector Median Annual Salary
Utilities
$78,510
Management of Companies and Enterprises
$64,390
Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)
$55,070
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
$53,970
Wholesale Trade
$53,460
Mining
$49,600
Federal, State, and Local Government
$47,720
Construction
$47,320
Manufacturing
$45,300
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
$44,200
Transportation and Warehousing
$41,080
Retail Trade
$40,620
Educational Services
$40,070
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$36,250
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
$28,950

Table 3. Median Annual Wage of Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators by States (2022 survey)

From the above tables we note that not only paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salaries vary considerably based on one's education and experience, and the industry sectors, they also change considerably from state to state. In the following table we compare the median salary of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in all 50 states of the United States. We note that the median annual salaries range from $26,750 to $98,730. The highest paying state for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators is Hawaii with a median annual salary of $98,730. The lowest paying state is Puerto Rico with a median annual salary of $26,750. For more salary information of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators profession in a specific state, use the links in the table.

State Name Median Annual Salary
Hawaii
$98,730
Minnesota
$81,160
Washington
$80,660
Alaska
$75,780
California
$64,840
Ohio
$64,660
Oregon
$63,400
Montana
$62,200
Rhode Island
$60,580
Missouri
$57,980
New York
$57,200
Connecticut
$57,060
North Dakota
$55,510
Wisconsin
$53,850
Maryland
$52,760
Pennsylvania
$52,700
Wyoming
$52,440
Delaware
$52,120
Nevada
$52,000
Massachusetts
$51,840
New Hampshire
$51,690
West Virginia
$51,560
South Dakota
$50,610
Vermont
$49,400
Colorado
$48,780
Iowa
$48,630
New Jersey
$47,850
Michigan
$47,800
Maine
$47,270
District of Columbia
$46,920
Utah
$46,780
Indiana
$46,770
Illinois
$46,480
Idaho
$45,610
Louisiana
$45,360
Virginia
$45,190
Tennessee
$42,780
Oklahoma
$42,010
Georgia
$41,850
Kansas
$41,620
Kentucky
$40,850
Nebraska
$40,830
Arizona
$40,530
Texas
$39,840
North Carolina
$39,310
Florida
$38,810
South Carolina
$38,620
New Mexico
$37,740
Arkansas
$37,380
Alabama
$37,140
Mississippi
$36,420
Puerto Rico
$26,750