Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI is $58,410/year ($28.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.84), which stretches that salary to about $61,588 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,162/month — about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $58K get you in Kalamazoo-Portage?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kalamazoo-Portage’s Regional Price Parity (94.84). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $19K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $109K | +110% | N/A |
| Alaska | $98K | +89% | 100 |
| California | $79K | +54% | 1,920 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | +54% | 1,480 |
| Washington | $77K | +49% | 390 |
| Missouri | $71K | +37% | 1,550 |
| District of Columbia | $70K | +36% | 180 |
| Minnesota | $69K | +33% | 1,130 |
| Illinois | $66K | +28% | 1,300 |
| New York | $64K | +24% | 4,200 |
| Rhode Island | $61K | +19% | 150 |
| Ohio | $61K | +19% | 2,220 |
| Oregon | $61K | +18% | 250 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | +18% | 310 |
| Nevada | $61K | +17% | 140 |
| Massachusetts | $60K | +17% | 1,050 |
| Arizona | $60K | +17% | 210 |
| Iowa | $60K | +17% | 170 |
| Connecticut | $60K | +16% | 160 |
| Montana | $59K | +14% | 240 |
| Wyoming | $59K | +14% | 110 |
| Maryland | $59K | +14% | 760 |
| South Dakota | $58K | +12% | 180 |
| West Virginia | $57K | +11% | 390 |
| Indiana | $57K | +10% | 860 |
| Pennsylvania | $57K | +10% | 510 |
| Michigan | $55K | +6% | 2,160 |
| Maine | $54K | +5% | 370 |
| Vermont | $54K | +4% | 80 |
| Kansas | $54K | +4% | 660 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -5% | 280 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -6% | 1,550 |
| Idaho | $48K | -7% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $48K | -7% | 850 |
| Delaware | $48K | -7% | 240 |
| Utah | $48K | -7% | 540 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -8% | 1,310 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -9% | 480 |
| Virginia | $47K | -9% | 2,180 |
| Texas | $47K | -9% | 5,140 |
| New Mexico | $46K | -11% | 1,060 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -12% | 150 |
| South Carolina | $45K | -12% | 590 |
| Florida | $45K | -13% | 3,000 |
| Louisiana | $45K | -13% | 230 |
| Georgia | $45K | -14% | 1,440 |
| Arkansas | $41K | -21% | 510 |
| Alabama | $39K | -24% | 740 |
| Mississippi | $38K | -25% | 570 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
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 Kalamazoo-Portage numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?
The median is $58,410 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,030, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $66,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Kalamazoo-Portage?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,874/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,162/month, which eats 30% 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 Kalamazoo-Portage?
Kalamazoo-Portage has a Regional Price Parity of 94.84 (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 $61,588 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.