Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,390 or more. The middle half of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Hickory earn between $39,490 and $50,350.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $45KMedian
- $50K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,430 | $3,869 | $22.32 |
| Median | $44,760 | $3,730 | $21.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,490 | $3,291 | $18.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,350 | $4,196 | $24.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Hickory earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($49,230) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($59,000). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $53,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $46,430 | $44,760 | $37,230 | $54,390 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $49,230 | $47,820 | $37,860 | $61,310 | 1,940 |
| United States | $59,000 | $53,340 | $38,230 | $92,230 | 41,820 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $46,430, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $38,143 a year, or $3,179 a month and $1,467 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $46,430 buys what about $52,472 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 9th of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($54,440).
- Durham$54,440
- Raleigh$52,640
- Greensboro$50,270
- Charlotte$49,900
- Fayetteville$48,230
- Asheville$48,150
- Wilmington$47,910
- Winston-Salem$47,620
- Hickory$46,430
All Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
Riverside, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($105,890).
- Riverside, CA$105,890
- San Francisco, CA$105,680
- Seattle, WA$98,470
- Honolulu, HI$94,450
- Anchorage, AK$84,690
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary by city
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Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in Hickory: questions
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make an hour in Hickory?
$22.32 an hour on average, and $21.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators take-home pay in Hickory?
About $38,143 a year ($3,179 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,430.
Do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,000).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2071; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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