Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $37,210 a year ($17.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,480 for the top 10%. That is 30% lower than the national median of $53,340. Pay here is 15% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $44,010. There are 0.35 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,560 | $17.10 |
| 25th percentile | $35,890 | $17.25 |
| Median | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| 75th percentile | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,480 | $22.83 |
| Average (mean) | $40,620 | $19.53 |
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 | $3,100.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,550.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,431.15 |
| Weekly | $715.58 |
| Hourly | $17.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $48,110 | 190 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $47,540 | 100 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $46,550 | 140 |
| Lawton, OK | $45,660 | 50 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $39,120 | 200 |
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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $36,950 | $17.77 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $41,820 | $20.11 |
| Electrician | $52,500 | $25.24 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $48,350 | $23.24 |
| Carpenter | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Roofer | $44,230 | $21.27 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $38,890 | $18.70 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,210 | $22.22 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| Glazier | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $59,800 | $28.75 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $46,490 | $22.35 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $37,210 a year, or $17.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $47,480 a year. The top 25% earn $46,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,560 a year, and a quarter of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn $35,890 or less.
How many paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 30 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.