Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in North Carolina
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in North Carolina earn a median of $47,820 a year ($22.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,310 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $53,340. North Carolina ranks 38th of 50 states for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators pay. There are 0.39 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,860 | $18.20 |
| 25th percentile | $40,630 | $19.54 |
| Median | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| 75th percentile | $53,890 | $25.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,310 | $29.48 |
| Average (mean) | $49,230 | $23.67 |
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 | $3,985 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,992.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,839.23 |
| Weekly | $919.62 |
| Hourly | $22.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,820 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 cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $54,800 | 90 |
| 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.
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Electrician | $56,800 | $27.31 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Carpenter | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $44,110 | $21.21 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $46,780 | $22.49 |
| Pipelayer | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| Roofer | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $50,730 | $24.39 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $42,990 | $20.67 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $45,080 | $21.67 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in North Carolina is $47,820 a year, or $22.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in North Carolina earn at least $61,310 a year. The top 25% earn $53,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,860 a year, and a quarter of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn $40,630 or less.
How many paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators work in North Carolina?
About 1,940 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.