Kentucky Median
$45,660
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.95
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-14% vs US median
US median $53,340
State Rank
#46 of 50
110 employed here
How much do Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators make in Kentucky?
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators working in Kentucky earn a median salary of $45,660 per year, or about $21.95 per hour. That is 14% below the national median of $53,340 for this occupation.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $29,540 while the top 10% make $64,600 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,720 and $49,570 a year.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,540 | $14.20 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $40,720 | $19.58 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $45,660 | $21.95 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $49,570 | $23.83 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,600 | $31.06 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 46th out of 50 states and territories for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in other states
Hawaii $111,360District of Columbia $91,280Washington $90,530Alaska $83,520California $83,130Connecticut $77,480Idaho $73,210Illinois $73,060Missouri $69,400Wisconsin $69,020Minnesota $68,180Oregon $63,310Rhode Island $63,060New York $62,760New Hampshire $62,080Iowa $61,110Massachusetts $60,950Maryland $60,530Ohio $60,280South Dakota $60,140Colorado $58,810Wyoming $58,080Maine $57,020Pennsylvania $56,010Montana $55,920Vermont $54,830Michigan $54,220Delaware $54,020Arizona $52,140Nevada $51,400West Virginia $51,230New Jersey $50,500Indiana $50,380Kansas $49,070Utah $48,860Louisiana $48,450Virginia $48,060North Carolina $47,820Texas $47,060South Carolina $46,950Florida $46,840Oklahoma $46,760Georgia $46,100New Mexico $45,880Nebraska $45,760Arkansas $44,010Tennessee $42,510Alabama $41,880Mississippi $37,030
Working as Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Kentucky
Nationally, about 42,000 people work as Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($45,660) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators make in Kentucky?
The median Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in Kentucky is $45,660 per year, or about $21.95 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $29,540 at the entry level to $64,600 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators about 14% less than the national median of $53,340. Kentucky ranks 46th out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $45,660 a year. About 110 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.