Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Appleton, WI is $78,260/year ($37.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.42), which stretches that salary to about $84,679 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,236/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $78K get you in Appleton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Appleton’s Regional Price Parity (92.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in Appleton
Appleton sits well above the national pay line for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators, local pay runs about 47% higher than the U.S. median of $53K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,236/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.42 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Appleton offers a genuinely strong financial position for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operatorss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in metros near Appleton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $83K | $86K |
| Madison | $94K | $96K |
| Green Bay | $50K | $54K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $80K | $78K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Appleton, WI
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $111K | +109% | N/A |
| District of Columbia | $91K | +71% | 70 |
| Washington | $91K | +70% | 530 |
| Alaska | $84K | +57% | 80 |
| California | $83K | +56% | 1,400 |
| Connecticut | $77K | +45% | N/A |
| Idaho | $73K | +37% | 130 |
| Illinois | $73K | +37% | 950 |
| Missouri | $69K | +30% | 1,560 |
| Wisconsin | $69K | +29% | 960 |
| Minnesota | $68K | +28% | 830 |
| Oregon | $63K | +19% | 520 |
| Rhode Island | $63K | +18% | 160 |
| New York | $63K | +18% | 4,530 |
| New Hampshire | $62K | +16% | 260 |
| Iowa | $61K | +15% | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +14% | 560 |
| Maryland | $61K | +13% | 750 |
| Ohio | $60K | +13% | 2,370 |
| South Dakota | $60K | +13% | 130 |
| Colorado | $59K | +10% | 920 |
| Wyoming | $58K | +9% | 160 |
| Maine | $57K | +7% | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $56K | +5% | 520 |
| Montana | $56K | +5% | 260 |
| Vermont | $55K | +3% | 70 |
| Michigan | $54K | +2% | 1,720 |
| Delaware | $54K | +1% | 150 |
| Arizona | $52K | -2% | 170 |
| Nevada | $51K | -4% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $51K | -4% | 210 |
| New Jersey | $51K | -5% | 840 |
| Indiana | $50K | -6% | 910 |
| Kansas | $49K | -8% | 540 |
| Utah | $49K | -8% | 410 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -9% | 350 |
| Virginia | $48K | -10% | 1,660 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -10% | 1,940 |
| Texas | $47K | -12% | 3,940 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -12% | 630 |
| Florida | $47K | -12% | 2,740 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -12% | 550 |
| Georgia | $46K | -14% | 1,270 |
| New Mexico | $46K | -14% | 990 |
| Nebraska | $46K | -14% | 390 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -14% | 110 |
| Arkansas | $44K | -17% | 490 |
| Tennessee | $43K | -20% | 1,730 |
| Alabama | $42K | -21% | 700 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -31% | 470 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Appleton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Appleton?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,236/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Appleton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,867/month. At HUD’s $1,236/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator a high-paying job in Appleton?
Local pay is 47% above the national median — $78K here vs. $53K nationally.
How does Appleton compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
Appleton pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +47%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Appleton, WI?
The median is $78,260 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,780, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $94,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Appleton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,028/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,236/month, which eats 24.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary go in Appleton?
Appleton has a Regional Price Parity of 92.42 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary is worth about $84,679 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.