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Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $53,340 Median per year · $25.64/hr Most earn $38,230–$92,230

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
  • Set up and tear down equipment.
  • Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
  • Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors.
  • Operate oil distributors, loaders, chip spreaders, dump trucks, and snow plows.
  • Cut or break up pavement and drive guardrail posts, using machines equipped with interchangeable hammers.

Job outlook

United States
1% fewer jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 3,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Highway, street, and bridge construction37.3%
  • Other specialty trade contractors29.2%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals14.5%
  • Petroleum and coal products manufacturing4.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)2.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

You can get into this job with a high school diploma, and most people first spend about 1 to 2 years on a road or construction crew before they run paving equipment. It's a hands-on job where you learn most of the skills on the job.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    A diploma is the usual minimum requirement, and it shows employers you can finish training and follow safety rules.

  2. Construction Laborer

    1-2 years

    As a laborer you help crews prepare job sites, handle materials, and watch how paving machines are run, which builds the experience employers look for.

  3. Paving Equipment Operator

    Ongoing

    You run asphalt pavers, concrete paving machines, or tampers on road, parking lot, and runway projects, usually after learning from experienced operators on the job.

Where it can lead

  1. Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You learn to run a wider range of heavy equipment, like graders, dozers, and excavators, which opens up more job sites and more responsibility.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, drafting, or technical classesHands-on classes teach you tools, machines, and how to read plans, which all help on a paving crew.
  • Take math classes, especially geometry and measurementPaving work involves measuring slopes, distances, and material thickness, so strong math skills make learning on the job easier.
  • Look for a summer or after-school job on a construction or landscaping crewAny physical work outdoors shows you what the job is like and can count toward the experience employers want.
  • Join a skills or trades club, like SkillsUSA if your school has itClubs like this build teamwork and job skills and often connect students with local employers.
  • Volunteer for community projects like park or trail cleanupHelping with outdoor work teaches you teamwork and how to follow instructions on a job site.

In college

  • Take courses in construction technology or heavy equipment operationMany community colleges offer these classes, which teach equipment basics and job site safety before you start working.
  • Get a summer or part-time job with a paving or road construction companyWorking on a paving crew, even as a laborer, gives you the on-the-job experience employers look for.
  • Earn a safety certification such as OSHA 10-hourSafety certificates are common in construction and show employers you understand job site hazards.
  • Ask about a commercial driver's license (CDL) or equipment training at a local trade schoolSome paving and road jobs involve hauling or driving equipment on public roads, so a license can make you more useful to employers.
  • Join a construction trades or engineering student groupThese groups help you meet people in the industry and hear about hiring opportunities.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local contractor or road crew whether they hire helpers or laborers for summer work, since that is a common way to get your first construction experience.
  • Get comfortable with basic math and measuring, because paving work depends on checking depths, slopes, and material amounts.
  • Take a safety course if your school or town offers one, such as first aid or equipment safety, since employers value workers who understand job site rules.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Ground Transportation Certificate: typical pay 1 year after finishing $48,327 a year · typical debt $6,365

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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