Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in New Jersey is $50,500/year ($24.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $50,836 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 62.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in New Jersey?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators pay in New Jersey tracks closely to the national median, $51K locally vs. $53K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 60% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in New Jersey
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland | $48K | -4% | 40 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $47K | -6% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 60% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/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 New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,538/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 81% 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 Jersey?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $51K locally vs. $53K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
New Jersey pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in New Jersey?
The median is $50,500 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,300, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $72,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,443/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 60% 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 Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $50,836 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.