Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in New Hampshire is $62,080/year ($29.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.66), so that salary is closer to $58,754 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,528/month, about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Hampshire. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in New Hampshire?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in New Hampshire
New Hampshire sits well above the national pay line for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $53K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,528/month, which is 35.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.66), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Hampshire
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in New Hampshire
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua | $62K | +0% | 60 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Hampshire?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 35.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,528/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 New Hampshire?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,954/month. At HUD’s $1,528/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 New Hampshire?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $62K here vs. $53K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does New Hampshire compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
New Hampshire pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in New Hampshire?
The median is $62,080 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,240, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $80,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in New Hampshire?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,327/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,528/month, which eats 35.3% 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 New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has a Regional Price Parity of 105.66 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary is worth about $58,754 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.