Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $107,010 or more. The middle half of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Salem earn between $60,420 and $76,010.
- $52K10th
- $60K25th
- $61KMedian
- $76K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,130 | $5,594 | $32.27 |
| Median | $61,210 | $5,101 | $29.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,420 | $5,035 | $29.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,010 | $6,334 | $36.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Salem earn 4% less than the Oregon average ($69,920) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($59,000). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $53,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $67,130 | $61,210 | $51,910 | $107,010 | 40 |
| Oregon | $69,920 | $63,310 | $55,490 | $103,330 | 520 |
| 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 Salem
On the average salary of $67,130, a single filer in Salem takes home about $51,259 a year, or $4,272 a month and $1,972 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $67,130 buys what about $64,767 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 4th of 5 Oregon metro areas for this job; Eugene pays the most ($79,220).
All Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salaries in Oregon
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 Salem: questions
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make an hour in Salem?
$32.27 an hour on average, and $29.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators take-home pay in Salem?
About $51,259 a year ($4,272 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,130. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more 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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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