Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Montana is $55,920/year ($26.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $57,649 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 30.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $56K get you in Montana?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in Montana
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $56K locally vs. $53K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in Montana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $51K | -9% | 40 |
| Billings | $49K | -13% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 30.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Montana?
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 $2,191/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $56K locally vs. $53K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
Montana pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Montana?
The median is $55,920 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,510, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $78,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,732/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 30.3% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $57,649 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.