Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Colorado
Thinking about a career as a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Colorado? Here’s what you need to know. 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.
What do Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Make in Colorado?
The paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators working in Colorado, the median annual wage is $53,430 per year (or about $25.69/hour).Annual wages span from $40,330 at the 10th percentile to $70,730 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| 25th percentile | $45,080 | $21.67 |
| Median (50th) | $53,430 | $25.69 |
| 75th percentile | $61,870 | $29.75 |
| 90th percentile | $70,730 | $34.00 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Colorado relative to the national average — is 1.47, meaning that paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $64,008 per year ($30.77/hour), below the Colorado median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 196,299 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators across the United States. In Colorado alone, around 1,260 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 540 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators.
Top Colorado Metros for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
These are the Colorado metros with the most paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Colorado.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 620 | $54,270 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 140 | $53,430 |
| Greeley, CO | 130 | $57,280 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 80 | $54,620 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 40 | $50,600 |
Top States for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Employment
View the states that employ the most paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 5,140 |
| New York | 4,200 |
| Florida | 3,000 |
| Ohio | 2,220 |
| Virginia | 2,180 |
| Michigan | 2,160 |
| California | 1,920 |
| Tennessee | 1,550 |
| Missouri | 1,550 |
| Wisconsin | 1,480 |
| Georgia | 1,440 |
| North Carolina | 1,310 |
| Illinois | 1,300 |
| Colorado | 1,260 |
| Minnesota | 1,130 |
| New Mexico | 1,060 |
| Massachusetts | 1,050 |
| Indiana | 860 |
| New Jersey | 850 |
| Maryland | 760 |
Highest-Paying States for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Where paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn the most: paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $108,570 |
| Alaska | $97,670 |
| California | $79,460 |
| Wisconsin | $79,440 |
| Washington | $77,180 |
| Missouri | $70,520 |
| District of Columbia | $70,030 |
| Minnesota | $68,920 |
| Illinois | $66,130 |
| New York | $63,860 |
Skills
Top paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
- Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
- Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
- Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
- Coordinate truck dumping.
- Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.
- Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors.
- Set up and tear down equipment.
- Operate machines to spread, smooth, level, or steel-reinforce stone, concrete, or asphalt on road beds.
- Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.
- Control traffic.
- Shovel blacktop.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Training and Teaching Others
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Ground Transportation
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Related Careers
Other careers like paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators include:
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
- Construction Laborers
- Pile Driver Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Pipelayers
Also Known As
Asphalt Distributor Operator, Asphalt Distributor Tender, Asphalt Equipment Crew Member, Asphalt Equipment Operator, Asphalt Paver, Asphalt Paver Operator, Asphalt Paving Machine Operator, Asphalt Paving Operator, Asphalt Plant Operator, Asphalt Raker, Asphalt Roller Operator, Asphalt Screed Operator, Asphalt Screedman, Asphalt Spreader Operator, Asphalt Surface Heater Operator.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-2071.00
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