Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Idaho is $73,210/year ($35.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $77,983 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 23.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Idaho. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $73K get you in Idaho?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in Idaho
Idaho sits well above the national pay line for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators, local pay runs about 37% higher than the U.S. median of $53K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Idaho offers a genuinely strong financial position for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/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 Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,987/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Idaho?
Local pay is 37% above the national median — $73K here vs. $53K nationally.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
Idaho pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +37%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Idaho?
The median is $73,210 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,780, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $112,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,726/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 24% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $77,983 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.