Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

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.

How to read this profile

BLS projects U.S. employment for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators to decrease by -0.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 42,300 to 41,900 jobs. Its estimate of 3,100 annual openings includes replacement needs, so it does not represent current vacancies, contract postings, or freelance demand. The wage ($53,340), education (High school diploma or equivalent), and related experience (None) figures on this profile describe typical U.S. employees. O*NET skills describe the occupation; they do not assess an individual worker's proficiency.

Base employment (2024)

42,300

Projected employment (2034)

41,900

Projected change (2024–2034)

-1%

Annual openings (projected average)

3,100

Pay & Preparation
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$53,340

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring (3.62/5) • Operation and Control (3.38/5) • Monitoring (3.25/5) • Critical Thinking (3/5) • Repairing (3/5) • Troubleshooting (3/5)

O*NET describes occupational requirements; these ratings do not measure current job-posting frequency or an individual worker’s proficiency.

BLS projections are long-term estimates; annual openings include growth and replacement needs and are not current vacancies.

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