All About Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Occupation Description Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways, or equipment used for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.
Life As a Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator
- Operate tamping machines or manually roll surfaces to compact earth fills, foundation forms, and finished road materials, according to grade specifications.
- Set up and tear down equipment.
- Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.
- Set up forms and lay out guidelines for curbs, according to written specifications, using string, spray paint, and concrete or water mixes.
- Drive and operate curbing machines to extrude concrete or asphalt curbing.
- Install dies, cutters, and extensions to screeds onto machines, using hand tools.
Featured schools near , edit
Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator Required Skills
These are the skills Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator Jobs
- Blacktop-Paver Operator
- Maintenance Equipment Operator (MEO)
- Road Roller Operator
- Reinforcing Steel Machine Operator
- Self-Propelled Hot-Mix Roller Operator
Is There Going to be Demand for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 51,900 jobs in the United States for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,300 new jobs for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator by 2026. The BLS estimates 6,200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator are Utah, Arizona, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, New Mexico, or Hawaii. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators make between $27,260 and $70,710 a year.

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators who work in Oregon, Illinois, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $37,450 |
Alaska | $66,250 |
Arizona | $41,500 |
Arkansas | $33,930 |
California | $58,370 |
Colorado | $45,310 |
Connecticut | $52,100 |
Delaware | $44,860 |
District of Columbia | $51,770 |
Florida | $34,460 |
Georgia | $36,630 |
Idaho | $37,970 |
Illinois | $59,540 |
Indiana | $42,760 |
Iowa | $44,360 |
Kansas | $39,470 |
Kentucky | $39,530 |
Louisiana | $43,110 |
Maine | $38,720 |
Maryland | $43,140 |
Massachusetts | $60,260 |
Michigan | $48,190 |
Minnesota | $55,280 |
Mississippi | $33,400 |
Missouri | $49,060 |
Montana | $47,310 |
Nebraska | $35,450 |
Nevada | $55,890 |
New Hampshire | $42,850 |
New Jersey | $49,540 |
New Mexico | $40,010 |
New York | $59,100 |
North Carolina | $37,040 |
North Dakota | $49,800 |
Ohio | $51,240 |
Oklahoma | $36,160 |
Oregon | $64,000 |
Pennsylvania | $43,890 |
South Carolina | $35,300 |
South Dakota | $43,560 |
Tennessee | $34,840 |
Texas | $38,770 |
Utah | $45,210 |
Virginia | $34,170 |
Washington | $66,520 |
West Virginia | $38,940 |
Wisconsin | $43,790 |
Wyoming | $47,000 |
What Tools do Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Database software
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- HCSS HeavyBid
How to Become a Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator
What education is needed to be a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator?

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Sector

Below are examples of industries where Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators work:

Related Careers
Those interested in being a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator may also be interested in:
- Stock Clerks- Stockroom, Warehouse, or Storage Yard
- Fallers
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Are you already one of the many Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |