Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Vermont is $54,830/year ($26.36/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.95), that's roughly $54,314 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,498/month, about 41.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Vermont. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $55K get you in Vermont?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in Vermont
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators pay in Vermont tracks closely to the national median, $55K locally vs. $53K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,498/month, which is 40.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.95) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Vermont
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Vermont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Vermont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 40.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,498/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Vermont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,995/month. At HUD’s $1,498/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 Vermont?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $55K locally vs. $53K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Vermont compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
Vermont pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.95), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Vermont?
The median is $54,830 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,920, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $62,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Vermont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,729/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,498/month, which eats 40.2% 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 Vermont?
Vermont has a Regional Price Parity of 100.95 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary is worth about $54,314 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.