What Do Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator Do?
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.
Life As a Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator: What Do They Do?
- Operate machines that clean or cut expansion joints in concrete or asphalt and that rout out cracks in pavement.
- Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.
- 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.
- Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
- Set up forms and lay out guidelines for curbs, according to written specifications, using string, spray paint, and concrete or water mixes.
- Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
Featured schools near , edit
Qualities of a Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator
When polled, Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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
- Road Packer Operator
- Screed Operator
- Asphalt Roller Person
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Concrete Paving Machine Operator
What Kind of Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 51,900 jobs for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator in 2016. 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.
Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator Salary
The salary for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators ranges between about $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 & Technology 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 do I Become a Paving, Surfacing & Tamping Equipment Operator?
What kind of Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator requirements are there?

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

Who Employs Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators?

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

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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
Those who work as a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
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 > |