How much does a paving operator make?
a year · about $26 an hour
A typical paving operator in the United States makes $53,340 a year, about $26 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
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.
Did you know? Some paving operators heat the machine’s screed and adjust its temperature, as well as controlling how fast asphalt flows.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $38,230 and $92,230How do you become one?
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.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($90,530), lowest in Alabama ($41,880).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $38,230 | $53,340 | $92,230 | about 42,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $90,530 | about 530 |
| California | $83,130 | about 1,000 |
| Illinois | $73,060 | about 950 |
| Missouri | $69,400 | about 2,000 |
| Wisconsin | $69,020 | about 960 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/construction-equipment-operators.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/47-2071.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.dws.nm.gov/en-us/Apprenticeship-Programs/Asphalt-Paving-Machine-Operator
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY