How much does a paving operator make?

Pay can rise with experience, skill, sought-after credentials, or more complex tasks; it also varies by employer and location. In the U.S., night, overtime, or seasonal schedules can change hours worked, and some operators need a CDL to haul equipment.

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.

What's a typical day like?

They guide the paver while dump trucks feed in asphalt, watching the fresh strip and adjusting the flow where it looks low. They may compact it with a roller, check and clean the machine, and coordinate with the crew.

U.S. entrants usually finish high school or a GED, then train on the job, at vocational school, or in a 3–4-year apprenticeship. Many start after high school; one New Mexico program requires applicants to be 18, and a CDL may be needed to haul equipment.

High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)

Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.

Some paving operators heat the machine’s screed and adjust its temperature, as well as controlling how fast asphalt flows.