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Paving machine operator salary
Average paving machine operator salary
$41,563
Understanding Paving Machine Operator Salaries
Paving machine operators play a vital role in the construction industry, responsible for the efficient placement of asphalt and concrete. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at approximately $41,563 per year, or around $20 per hour. Factors influencing salary include experience level, geographic location, and the specific employer.
Salary Variations Across States
Operators in states such as California and New York tend to earn higher wages due to increased demand and higher living costs. For instance, the top-paying states for paving machine operators often include:
- California
- New York
- Texas
In addition, cities like Los Angeles and New York City present even greater earning potential, reflecting the local market's demand for skilled operators.
As the construction industry continues to grow, paving machine operators can expect evolving opportunities for career advancement and salary growth. Regularly updating skills and certifications can further enhance job prospects.
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Where can a Paving Machine Operator earn more?
Average paving machine operator salary by state
The average paving machine operator salary in Alaska, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average paving machine operator salary states are Iowa, Georgia, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for paving machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $57,200 | $27.50 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $49,845 | $23.96 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $51,067 | $24.55 |
| 4 | Ohio | $45,383 | $21.82 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $44,425 | $21.36 |
| 6 | Michigan | $43,179 | $20.76 |
| 7 | Indiana | $41,608 | $20.00 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $41,685 | $20.04 |
| 9 | Oregon | $45,914 | $22.07 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $46,099 | $22.16 |
| 11 | Washington | $47,678 | $22.92 |
| 12 | Idaho | $44,323 | $21.31 |
| 13 | Illinois | $42,513 | $20.44 |
| 14 | Arizona | $43,480 | $20.90 |
| 15 | Utah | $41,751 | $20.07 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $44,233 | $21.27 |
| 17 | California | $48,500 | $23.32 |
| 18 | Maine | $42,599 | $20.48 |
| 19 | Alabama | $41,484 | $19.94 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $41,328 | $19.87 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $39,364 | $18.93 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $41,803 | $20.10 |
| 23 | Kansas | $39,260 | $18.88 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $38,166 | $18.35 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $39,193 | $18.84 |
| 26 | Virginia | $42,977 | $20.66 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $36,844 | $17.71 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $38,857 | $18.68 |
| 29 | Colorado | $41,783 | $20.09 |
| 30 | Missouri | $39,793 | $19.13 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | $37,600 | $18.08 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $36,771 | $17.68 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $38,688 | $18.60 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $37,916 | $18.23 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $36,811 | $17.70 |
| 36 | Maryland | $37,312 | $17.94 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $36,257 | $17.43 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $39,347 | $18.92 |
| 39 | Nevada | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| 40 | New York | $39,253 | $18.87 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $36,942 | $17.76 |
| 42 | Iowa | $35,586 | $17.11 |
| 43 | Montana | $37,478 | $18.02 |
| 44 | Georgia | $35,266 | $16.95 |
| 45 | Delaware | $38,073 | $18.30 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $36,769 | $17.68 |
| 47 | Vermont | $35,994 | $17.30 |
| 48 | Florida | $34,389 | $16.53 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $31,276 | $15.04 |
| 50 | Texas | $32,600 | $15.67 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $31,422 | $15.11 |
Highest paying cities for paving machine operators
The highest-paying cities for paving machine operators are Parma, OH, Portland, OR, and Waukesha, WI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parma, OH | $47,106 | $22.65 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $45,943 | $22.09 |
| 3 | Waukesha, WI | $44,219 | $21.26 |
| 4 | Norfolk, VA | $42,692 | $20.52 |
| 5 | Orem, UT | $41,486 | $19.95 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $39,913 | $19.19 |
| 7 | New Britain, CT | $38,549 | $18.53 |
| 8 | Jackson, MS | $37,882 | $18.21 |
| 9 | Marietta, GA | $35,472 | $17.05 |
| 10 | Jacksonville, FL | $34,776 | $16.72 |
| 11 | Big Spring, TX | $33,425 | $16.07 |
Paving machine operator salary details
A paving machine operator's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $58,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a paving machine operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| Average | $41,563 | $3,464 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying paving machine operator jobs
The highest paying types of paving machine operators are asphalt roller operator, traveling plant operator, and road grader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Machine Operator | $32,874 | $2,740 | $15.80 | 96,834 |
Top companies hiring paving machine operators now:
Which companies pay paving machine operators the most?
Paving machine operator salaries at GPAC and MDU Resources are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average paving machine operator salary at companies like Lehigh Hanson and Geneva Rock Products are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GPAC | $57,372 | $27.58 |
| 2 | MDU Resources | $52,009 | $25.00 |
| 3 | Lehigh Hanson | $50,490 | $24.27 |
| 4 | Geneva Rock Products | $49,427 | $23.76 |
| 5 | Hubbard Construction | $47,387 | $22.78 |
| 6 | Blythe Construction | $47,351 | $22.76 |
| 7 | Oldcastle Infrastructure | $46,739 | $22.47 |
| 8 | C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. | $46,533 | $22.37 |
| 9 | Manatt's | $46,070 | $22.15 |
| 10 | Hubbard | $42,332 | $20.35 |
| 11 | Barnhill Contracting | $41,153 | $19.79 |
| 12 | Walbec Group | $40,110 | $19.28 |
| 13 | TriAd Marketing & Media | $39,327 | $18.91 |
| 14 | Colas USA | $38,609 | $18.56 |
| 15 | M&m | $36,992 | $17.78 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Paving machine operator salary trends
The average paving machine operator salary has risen by $6,273 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average paving machine operator earned $35,290 annually, but today, they earn $41,563 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for paving machine operators over the last decade.
Compare paving machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average paving machine operator salary over time
Compare paving machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Paving machine operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,600 | $19.98 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $40,200 | $19.30 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $39,800 | $19.14 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $39,100 | $18.82 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | $39,000 | $18.75 | +1.8% |
Recently added paving machine operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Myers | Paving Transfer Machine Operator | Baltimore, MD | 06/29/2025 | $45,914 |
| Amrize | Asphalt Paving Machine Operator | Greenbelt, MD | 06/12/2025 | $45,914 |
| Heidelberg Materials Us, Inc. | Asphalt Paving Operator Class A | Frazer, PA | 06/05/2025 | $75,132 |
| Heidelberg Materials | Asphalt Paving Operator Class A | Downingtown, PA | 02/19/2025 | $75,132 |
| Heidelberg Materials Northeast | Asphalt Paving Operator Class A | Frazer, PA | 02/13/2025 | $75,132 |
| Heidelberg Materials Us, Inc. | Asphalt Paving Operator Class A | Frazer, PA | 02/11/2025 | $75,132 |
| Holcim | Asphalt Paving Machine Operator | Greenbelt, MD | 12/11/2024 | $49,045 |
| Cl Construction, LLC | Paving Machine Operator | Nora, NE | 10/02/2024 | $50,088 |
| Cl Construction, LLC | Paving Machine Operator | Nora, NE | 09/26/2024 | $50,088 |
| Cl Construction, LLC | Paving Machine Operator | Nora, NE | 09/10/2024 | $50,088 |
Paving machine operator salary FAQs
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