Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in New Mexico is $45,880/year ($22.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $49,302 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 35.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in New Mexico?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in New Mexico runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $53K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 35.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $50K | +9% | 50 |
| Albuquerque | $46K | -1% | 260 |
| Las Cruces | $45K | -1% | 100 |
| Farmington | $44K | -5% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 35.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Mexico?
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 $2,228/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Mexico?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $46K here vs. $53K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
New Mexico pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in New Mexico?
The median is $45,880 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,130, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $60,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,138/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 35.7% 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 Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $49,302 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.