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Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers out-earn Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators by $27K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators land at $53,340 and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers at $79,920. The education gap is real: paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators is Hawaii ($111,360); for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers it's Washington ($109,570).

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Median salary
$53,340
$79,920
Hourly rate
$25.64/hr
$38.42/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$38,230
$53,280
Senior level (90th %)
$92,230
$128,260
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
41,820
812,210
Job growth (10-year)
3.2%
5.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Hawaii
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators median pay.

State
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Hawaii
$111,360
$102,630
District of Columbia
$91,280
$86,520
Washington
$90,530
$109,570
Alaska
$83,520
$102,140
California
$83,130
$97,680
Connecticut
$77,480
$92,260
Illinois
$73,060
$105,750
Missouri
$69,400
$87,520
Wisconsin
$69,020
$85,350
Minnesota
$68,180
$97,610
Oregon
$63,310
$103,070
Rhode Island
$63,060
$98,590
New York
$62,760
$95,700
Massachusetts
$60,950
$97,850
New Jersey
$50,500
$105,510

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn more nationally. The median is $53,340 for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators versus $79,920 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, a difference of $27K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 5.3% projected growth, compared to 3.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators at $111,360/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators earn $111,360 vs. $102,630 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operatorsGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersGuide →