Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Also called: Paving 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.
Also called: Asphalt Distributor Operator, Asphalt Distributor Tender, Asphalt Equipment Crew Member, Asphalt Equipment Operator, Asphalt Paver, Asphalt Paver Operator
Median pay
$53,340
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$38,230 – $92,230
People employed
41,820
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 3.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 4.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 5.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 6.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 7.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in every state →
What paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators do
- 01Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
- 02Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
- 03Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
- 04Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
- 05Coordinate truck dumping.
- 06Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Building and Construction
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
- Physics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining91% · +8%
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators83% · +31%
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas81% · −12%
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators81% · +16%
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas80% · +13%
Change into paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining85% · $57,430
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas81% · $58,620
- Highway Maintenance Workers80% · $50,260
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners80% · $49,880
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators79% · $61,810
Majors that lead here
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.