Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $54,800 a year ($26.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,730 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $53,340. Pay here is 15% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $47,820. There are 0.28 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $54,440, close to the median.
Pay range for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| 25th percentile | $46,750 | $22.47 |
| Median | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| 75th percentile | $61,730 | $29.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,730 | $29.68 |
| Average (mean) | $54,440 | $26.17 |
Half of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,566.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,283.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,107.69 |
| Weekly | $1,053.85 |
| Hourly | $26.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | $50,720 | 100 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $49,920 | 130 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $49,250 | 80 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $48,590 | 440 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,190 | 430 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $47,820 | 40 |
| Wilmington, NC | $47,160 | 90 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,320 | 340 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $44,760 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $111,360 |
| District of Columbia | $91,280 |
| Washington | $90,530 |
| Alaska | $83,520 |
| California | $83,130 |
| Connecticut | $77,480 |
| Idaho | $73,210 |
| Illinois | $73,060 |
| Missouri | $69,400 |
| Wisconsin | $69,020 |
See Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Construction Laborer | $46,560 | $22.38 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| Carpenter | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $50,820 | $24.44 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Pipelayer | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $57,810 | $27.79 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Glazier | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,430 | $36.27 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $73,590 | $35.38 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $54,800 a year, or $26.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $61,730 a year. The top 25% earn $61,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,330 a year, and a quarter of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn $46,750 or less.
How many paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 90 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.