Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,240 or more. The middle half of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Chicago earn between $56,000 and $102,240.
- $50K10th
- $56K25th
- $80KMedian
- $102K75th
- $102K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,770 | $6,731 | $38.83 |
| Median | $80,340 | $6,695 | $38.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,000 | $4,667 | $26.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,240 | $8,520 | $49.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($77,180) and 37% more than the U.S. average ($59,000). At the median the gap is +51% against the U.S. median of $53,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $80,770 | $80,340 | $49,610 | $102,240 | 740 |
| Illinois | $77,180 | $73,060 | $46,800 | $102,720 | 950 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $80,770, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $61,795 a year, or $5,150 a month and $2,377 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $63,259 | $5,272 |
| Working in IL | $61,795 | $5,150 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $80,770 buys what about $77,967 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$80,770
- Springfield$77,050
All Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salaries in Illinois
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 Chicago: questions
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make an hour in Chicago?
$38.83 an hour on average, and $38.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $61,795 a year ($5,150 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,770.
Do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 37% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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