Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Tennessee is $42,510/year ($20.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $47,349 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 39.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in Tennessee?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Tennessee runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $53K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 40.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in Tennessee
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville | $50K | +18% | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $48K | +14% | 530 |
| Knoxville | $41K | -5% | 270 |
| Memphis | $39K | -8% | 200 |
| Chattanooga | $39K | -9% | 90 |
| Cleveland | $36K | -15% | 40 |
| Johnson City | $36K | -16% | 80 |
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 Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 40.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,178/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $43K here vs. $53K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
Tennessee pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Tennessee?
The median is $42,510 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,300, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $60,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,016/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 40.3% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $47,349 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.