Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2071) earn a median $53,340 a year ($25.64 an hour) in the United States, with 41,820 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators do
These operators run the machines that apply concrete, asphalt and other materials to road beds, parking lots, and airport runways and taxiways, and the machines that tamp gravel, dirt and other materials. A paving machine operator starts the machine, engages the clutch and works levers to guide it along forms or guidelines and control its attachments, while keeping a constant flow of material into the hoppers or screeds, sometimes by pushing dump trucks. The operator watches how the paving material is distributed, adjusts machine settings or flow, and points out low spots for other workers to fill. Tamping machine operators and form tampers compact the fill, and stone spreader operators spread stone. Operators also fill tanks and hoppers, coordinate truck dumping, set up and tear down equipment, drive machines onto trailers for transport, and clean, maintain and repair equipment or report malfunctions. The work is separate from general construction equipment operators (47-2073), who run bulldozers, motor graders and similar machines.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most common education level reported is less than a high school diploma, with skills learned on the job.
Also called: Asphalt Distributor Operator, Asphalt Distributor Tender, Asphalt Equipment Crew Member, Asphalt Equipment Operator, Asphalt Paver.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.38 | $21.93 | $25.64 | $31.12 | $44.34 | $28.37 | 41,820 |
| Annual | $38,230 | $45,610 | $53,340 | $64,720 | $92,230 | $59,000 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $24.63 | $40.05 | $53.54 | $53.54 | $59.61 | $46.60 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $51,230 | $83,300 | $111,360 | $111,370 | $123,990 | $96,920 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $29.59 | $34.70 | $43.88 | $43.88 | $43.89 | $38.62 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $61,550 | $72,180 | $91,280 | $91,280 | $91,280 | $80,320 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $28.30 | $35.49 | $43.53 | $49.04 | $57.10 | $43.65 | 530 | 0.15 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $58,860 | $73,810 | $90,530 | $102,000 | $118,760 | $90,790 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $29.17 | $32.13 | $40.15 | $48.19 | $48.20 | $40.16 | 80 | 0.24 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $60,670 | $66,830 | $83,520 | $100,240 | $100,260 | $83,530 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $27.39 | $30.90 | $39.97 | $60.89 | $62.56 | $45.40 | 1,400 | 0.08 | 0.29 |
| Annual | $56,980 | $64,270 | $83,130 | $126,640 | $130,120 | $94,440 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.29 | $27.33 | $30.17 | $47.17 | $50.17 | $34.78 | 4,530 | 0.47 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $48,450 | $56,840 | $62,760 | $98,120 | $104,350 | $72,330 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.92 | $20.01 | $22.63 | $26.25 | $29.65 | $23.53 | 3,940 | 0.28 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $37,280 | $41,620 | $47,060 | $54,610 | $61,660 | $48,940 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.23 | $19.30 | $22.52 | $24.97 | $29.22 | $23.33 | 2,740 | 0.28 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $37,910 | $40,140 | $46,840 | $51,950 | $60,780 | $48,530 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $18.29 | $22.83 | $28.98 | $38.27 | $44.79 | $30.29 | 2,370 | 0.43 | 1.59 |
| Annual | $38,050 | $47,490 | $60,280 | $79,610 | $93,160 | $63,010 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $18.20 | $19.54 | $22.99 | $25.91 | $29.48 | $23.67 | 1,940 | 0.39 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $37,860 | $40,630 | $47,820 | $53,890 | $61,310 | $49,230 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $28.51 | $38.24 | $60.89 | $60.89 | $60.89 | $50.91 | 310 | 0.18 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $59,300 | $79,550 | $126,640 | $126,640 | $126,640 | $105,890 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $24.63 | $34.19 | $53.54 | $53.54 | $53.54 | $45.41 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $51,230 | $71,120 | $111,360 | $111,360 | $111,370 | $94,450 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $29.93 | $38.71 | $50.26 | $59.96 | $71.84 | $50.81 | 260 | 0.11 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $62,260 | $80,530 | $104,530 | $124,720 | $149,420 | $105,680 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $31.73 | $37.28 | $46.44 | $49.05 | $68.83 | $47.34 | 270 | 0.13 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $65,990 | $77,540 | $96,590 | $102,020 | $143,160 | $98,470 | ||||
| Fort Wayne, IN | Hourly | $19.90 | $25.48 | $45.92 | $45.92 | $45.93 | $36.71 | 50 | 0.23 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $41,400 | $53,000 | $95,510 | $95,510 | $95,530 | $76,350 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.04 | $28.03 | $30.18 | $47.43 | $50.17 | $35.91 | 3,440 | 0.36 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $50,000 | $58,290 | $62,780 | $98,650 | $104,350 | $74,700 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $22.06 | $23.29 | $28.27 | $30.28 | $35.04 | $28.98 | 980 | 0.31 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $45,880 | $48,430 | $58,800 | $62,980 | $72,890 | $60,280 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $20.23 | $21.81 | $23.92 | $27.14 | $30.47 | $24.89 | 940 | 0.23 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $42,070 | $45,370 | $49,740 | $56,440 | $63,370 | $51,770 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $18.70 | $21.30 | $22.49 | $27.41 | $29.15 | $23.83 | 870 | 0.27 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $38,900 | $44,300 | $46,790 | $57,000 | $60,640 | $49,560 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $18.91 | $20.03 | $22.17 | $24.04 | $28.50 | $23.25 | 770 | 0.27 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $39,340 | $41,670 | $46,120 | $50,000 | $59,290 | $48,370 | ||||
Top industries employing paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction employ 39.0% of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators nationally (16,320 jobs) at a median $51,700 a year ($24.86 an hour), followed by Other Specialty Trade Contractors (29.9%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (14.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction NAICS 237300 | 16,320 | 39.0% | $51,700 | $24.86 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 12,520 | 29.9% | $54,200 | $26.06 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 6,000 | 14.3% | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing NAICS 324100 | 1,750 | 4.2% | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors NAICS 238100 | 880 | 2.1% | $58,970 | $28.35 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (41,820). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $46,960 for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in May 2021 and $53,340 in May 2025, with employment of 44,200 and 41,820.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $46,960 | $22.58 | 44,200 |
| May 2022 | $47,270 | $22.73 | 41,470 |
| May 2023 | $48,980 | $23.55 | 43,080 |
| May 2024 | $51,650 | $24.83 | 45,680 |
| May 2025 | $53,340 | $25.64 | 41,820 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $53.54 | $111,360 | $51,230 | $123,990 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $43.88 | $91,280 | $61,550 | $91,280 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.36 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $43.53 | $90,530 | $58,860 | $118,760 | 530 | 0.15 | 0.55 |
| 4 | Alaska profile | $40.15 | $83,520 | $60,670 | $100,260 | 80 | 0.24 | 0.88 |
| 5 | California profile | $39.97 | $83,130 | $56,980 | $130,120 | 1,400 | 0.08 | 0.29 |
| 6 | Connecticut profile | $37.25 | $77,480 | $60,400 | $101,120 | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | Idaho profile | $35.20 | $73,210 | $49,780 | $112,730 | 130 | 0.15 | 0.56 |
| 8 | Illinois profile | $35.13 | $73,060 | $46,800 | $102,720 | 950 | 0.16 | 0.58 |
| 9 | Missouri profile | $33.37 | $69,400 | $42,410 | $98,560 | 1,560 | 0.53 | 1.98 |
| 10 | Wisconsin profile | $33.18 | $69,020 | $37,440 | $92,150 | 960 | 0.33 | 1.22 |
| 11 | Minnesota profile | $32.78 | $68,180 | $50,310 | $99,920 | 830 | 0.28 | 1.04 |
| 12 | Oregon profile | $30.44 | $63,310 | $55,490 | $103,330 | 520 | 0.26 | 0.98 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $30.32 | $63,060 | $48,390 | $85,530 | 160 | 0.31 | 1.16 |
| 14 | New York profile | $30.17 | $62,760 | $48,450 | $104,350 | 4,530 | 0.47 | 1.74 |
| 15 | New Hampshire profile | $29.85 | $62,080 | $49,240 | $80,800 | 260 | 0.38 | 1.40 |
| 16 | Iowa profile | $29.38 | $61,110 | $52,360 | $65,070 | ** | ** | ** |
| 17 | Massachusetts profile | $29.31 | $60,950 | $37,300 | $81,560 | 560 | 0.15 | 0.57 |
| 18 | Maryland profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $47,000 | $93,430 | 750 | 0.27 | 1.01 |
| 19 | Ohio profile | $28.98 | $60,280 | $38,050 | $93,160 | 2,370 | 0.43 | 1.59 |
| 20 | South Dakota profile | $28.92 | $60,140 | $49,220 | $74,660 | 130 | 0.28 | 1.03 |
| 21 | Colorado profile | $28.28 | $58,810 | $43,610 | $72,650 | 920 | 0.32 | 1.19 |
| 22 | Wyoming profile | $27.92 | $58,080 | $49,290 | $73,440 | 160 | 0.56 | 2.08 |
| 23 | Maine profile | $27.42 | $57,020 | $45,650 | $89,100 | 250 | 0.39 | 1.43 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania profile | $26.93 | $56,010 | $44,320 | $75,400 | 520 | 0.09 | 0.32 |
| 25 | Montana profile | $26.89 | $55,920 | $36,510 | $78,350 | 260 | 0.50 | 1.87 |
| 26 | Vermont profile | $26.36 | $54,830 | $49,920 | $62,060 | 70 | 0.22 | 0.83 |
| 27 | Michigan profile | $26.07 | $54,220 | $38,510 | $74,360 | 1,720 | 0.39 | 1.45 |
| 28 | Delaware profile | $25.97 | $54,020 | $31,200 | $83,200 | 150 | 0.32 | 1.17 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $25.07 | $52,140 | $47,270 | $75,740 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.19 |
| 30 | Nevada profile | $24.71 | $51,400 | $38,610 | $79,140 | ** | ** | ** |
| 31 | West Virginia profile | $24.63 | $51,230 | $41,130 | $77,920 | 210 | 0.30 | 1.10 |
| 32 | New Jersey profile | $24.28 | $50,500 | $42,300 | $72,890 | 840 | 0.20 | 0.73 |
| 33 | Indiana profile | $24.22 | $50,380 | $39,630 | $91,350 | 910 | 0.28 | 1.05 |
| 34 | Kansas profile | $23.59 | $49,070 | $40,150 | $70,670 | 540 | 0.38 | 1.40 |
| 35 | Utah profile | $23.49 | $48,860 | $45,240 | $70,840 | 410 | 0.24 | 0.88 |
| 36 | Louisiana profile | $23.29 | $48,450 | $37,440 | $73,180 | 350 | 0.18 | 0.67 |
| 37 | Virginia profile | $23.10 | $48,060 | $38,130 | $60,410 | 1,660 | 0.40 | 1.50 |
| 38 | North Carolina profile | $22.99 | $47,820 | $37,860 | $61,310 | 1,940 | 0.39 | 1.46 |
| 39 | Texas profile | $22.63 | $47,060 | $37,280 | $61,660 | 3,940 | 0.28 | 1.04 |
| 40 | South Carolina profile | $22.57 | $46,950 | $38,050 | $57,760 | 630 | 0.27 | 1.01 |
| 41 | Florida profile | $22.52 | $46,840 | $37,910 | $60,780 | 2,740 | 0.28 | 1.03 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $22.48 | $46,760 | $36,620 | $58,910 | 550 | 0.32 | 1.19 |
| 43 | Georgia profile | $22.16 | $46,100 | $37,870 | $59,130 | 1,270 | 0.26 | 0.97 |
| 44 | New Mexico profile | $22.06 | $45,880 | $37,130 | $60,180 | 990 | 1.14 | 4.23 |
| 45 | Nebraska profile | $22.00 | $45,760 | $39,340 | $63,260 | 390 | 0.39 | 1.43 |
| 46 | Kentucky profile | $21.95 | $45,660 | $29,540 | $64,600 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.21 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $21.16 | $44,010 | $35,890 | $50,650 | 490 | 0.37 | 1.38 |
| 48 | Tennessee profile | $20.44 | $42,510 | $36,300 | $60,300 | 1,730 | 0.53 | 1.96 |
| 49 | Alabama profile | $20.14 | $41,880 | $31,990 | $58,140 | 700 | 0.33 | 1.23 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $17.80 | $37,030 | $30,250 | $51,280 | 470 | 0.41 | 1.51 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-2070), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-2071 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-2071, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-2071.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.