Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in New York is $62,760/year ($30.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $63,904 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,917/month, about 46.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in New York?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators, local pay runs about 18% 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 $1,917/month, which is 46.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in New York
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $63K | +0% | 3,440 |
| Utica-Rome | $62K | -2% | 80 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $60K | -5% | 240 |
| Syracuse | $58K | -7% | 100 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $58K | -8% | 250 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $57K | -9% | 140 |
| Rochester | $57K | -10% | 260 |
| Binghamton | $52K | -17% | 70 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $46K | -26% | 90 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 46.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,907/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 York?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $63K here vs. $53K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
New York pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in New York?
The median is $62,760 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,450, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $104,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,135/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 46.4% 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 York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $63,904 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.