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All About Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator Definition 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.
Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator Responsibilities
- Place strips of material, such as cork, asphalt, or steel into joints, or place rolls of expansion-joint material on machines that automatically insert material.
- Set up forms and lay out guidelines for curbs, according to written specifications, using string, spray paint, and concrete or water mixes.
- Set up and tear down equipment.
- Operate tamping machines or manually roll surfaces to compact earth fills, foundation forms, and finished road materials, according to grade specifications.
- Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
- Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
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Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator Needed 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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles
- Roadway Technician
- Strike Off Machine Operator
- Screed Operator
- Paving Operator
- Roller Operator
Are There Job Opportunities 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,200 job openings in this field each year.
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.
How much do Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators make 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
Becoming a Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator
Education needed to be a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator?
Where Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Are Employed
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators work in the following industries:
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
- 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
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