Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary
The median pay for a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in West Virginia is $51,230/year ($24.63/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $57,542 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in West Virginia?
About paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $51K locally vs. $53K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by metro in West Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $50K | -2% | 50 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/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 West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,468/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $51K locally vs. $53K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
West Virginia pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in West Virginia?
The median is $51,230 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,130, and experienced paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators can clear $77,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,453/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 29.2% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $57,542 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.