Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Louisiana is $48,450/year ($23.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $55,511 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 36% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Louisiana?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $48K locally vs. $53K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,191/month, which is 36.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in Louisiana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $66K | +35% | 100 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $49K | +1% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 36.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,246/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $48K locally vs. $53K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
Louisiana pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Louisiana?
The median is $48,450 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,440, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $73,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,290/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 36.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary go in Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $55,511 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.