Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $76,800 a year ($36.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,610 for the top 10%. That is 44% higher than the national median of $53,340. Pay here is 11% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $69,400. There are 0.36 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 $75,940, close to the median.
Pay range for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| 25th percentile | $52,560 | $25.27 |
| Median | $76,800 | $36.93 |
| 75th percentile | $94,440 | $45.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,610 | $46.93 |
| Average (mean) | $75,940 | $36.51 |
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 | $6,400 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,200 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,953.85 |
| Weekly | $1,476.92 |
| Hourly | $36.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $76,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $80,340 | 740 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $74,760 | 70 |
| Springfield, IL | $71,670 | 50 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $66,210 | 500 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $60,850 | 150 |
| Springfield, MO | $46,860 | 70 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Carpenter | $70,990 | $34.13 |
| Electrician | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $82,270 | $39.56 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $77,000 | $37.02 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $64,670 | $31.09 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,810 | $28.75 |
| Roofer | $58,750 | $28.25 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $77,490 | $37.26 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $66,080 | $31.77 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $81,640 | $39.25 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $79,240 | $38.10 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $59,040 | $28.39 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $71,730 | $34.48 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $76,800 a year, or $36.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $97,610 a year. The top 25% earn $94,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,890 a year, and a quarter of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn $52,560 or less.
How many paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 480 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.