Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Oklahoma is $46,760/year ($22.48/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.46), which stretches that salary to about $53,464 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,081/month, about 33.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oklahoma. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Oklahoma?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in Oklahoma
Pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Oklahoma runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $53K. Rent runs $1,081/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oklahoma
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in Oklahoma
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $48K | +3% | 190 |
| Lawton | $46K | -2% | 50 |
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 Oklahoma?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,081/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 Oklahoma?
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 $2,197/month. At HUD’s $1,081/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Oklahoma?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $47K here vs. $53K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Oklahoma compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
Oklahoma pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Oklahoma?
The median is $46,760 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,620, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $58,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Oklahoma?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,157/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,081/month, which eats 34.2% 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 Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has a Regional Price Parity of 87.46 (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 $53,464 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.