The median annual wage for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in California is $79,460 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $90,010.
Pay spans roughly $51,540 at the 10th percentile to $132,240 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $38.20 per hour. An estimated 1,920 people work as paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in California.
| Median (annual) | $79,460 |
| Mean (annual) | $90,010 |
| Median (hourly) | $38.20 |
| 10th percentile | $51,540 |
| 90th percentile | $132,240 |
| Employment | 1,920 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.