Paver vs spreader operator

The differences between pavers and spreader operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a paver and a spreader operator. Additionally, a spreader operator has an average salary of $38,453, which is higher than the $33,680 average annual salary of a paver.

The top three skills for a paver include asphalt, RAN and blacktop. The most important skills for a spreader operator are loaders, OSHA, and CDL.

Paver vs spreader operator overview

	Paver	Spreader Operator
Yearly salary	$33,680	$38,453
Hourly rate	$16.19	$18.49
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	226	30,111
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	Associate Degree, 34%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

Paver vs spreader operator salary

Pavers and spreader operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Paver	Spreader Operator
Average salary	$33,680	$38,453
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $44,000	Between $26,000 And $56,000
Highest paying City	Saginaw, MI	-
Highest paying state	Alaska	-
Best paying company	Alta Equipment	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between paver and spreader operator education

There are a few differences between a paver and a spreader operator in terms of educational background:

	Paver	Spreader Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	Associate Degree, 34%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Business
Most common college	-	-

Paver vs spreader operator demographics

Here are the differences between pavers' and spreader operators' demographics:

	Paver	Spreader Operator
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6%	Male, 75.0% Female, 25.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 0.9% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 0.9% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between paver and spreader operator duties and responsibilities

Paver example responsibilities.

Pave roads run street sweeper.
Work as a paver laying blacktop.
Ensure strict compliance with all OSHA regulations across all operational aspects.
Use Volvo skid steer to dig out and load old blacktop onto waiting trucks.
Load and move material using various types of trucks, power cranes, shovels, graders, or relate equipment.
Operate heavy machinery, shoveled/racked asphalt, make calculations.

Spreader operator example responsibilities.

Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Work together as a four-man team manually making plywood, pull green chain.

Paver vs spreader operator skills

Common paver skills

Asphalt, 53%
RAN, 7%
Blacktop, 6%
Manual Labor, 6%
Shovels, 5%
BOB Cat, 4%

Common spreader operator skills

Loaders, 37%
OSHA, 30%
CDL, 23%
Asphalt, 10%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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