Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in South Dakota is $60,140/year ($28.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $66,904 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 24.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in South Dakota?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in South Dakota
South Dakota sits well above the national pay line for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $53K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 24.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, South Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $58K | -3% | 40 |
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 South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 24.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in South Dakota?
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 $2,953/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 South Dakota?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $60K here vs. $53K nationally.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
South Dakota pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in South Dakota?
The median is $60,140 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,220, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $74,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,197/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 24.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary go in South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $66,904 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.