Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,600 or more. The middle half of paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Memphis earn between $38,230 and $51,090.
- $38K10th
- $38K25th
- $39KMedian
- $51K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,520 | $3,793 | $21.88 |
| Median | $39,120 | $3,260 | $18.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,230 | $3,186 | $18.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $51,090 | $4,258 | $24.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($45,850) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($59,000). At the median the gap is -27% against the U.S. median of $53,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $45,520 | $39,120 | $38,230 | $60,600 | 200 |
| Tennessee | $45,850 | $42,510 | $36,300 | $60,300 | 1,730 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $45,520, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $38,755 a year, or $3,230 a month and $1,491 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $38,755 | $3,230 |
| Working in MS | $37,667 | $3,139 |
| Working in AR | $37,558 | $3,130 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $45,520 buys what about $49,382 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Clarksville pays the most ($51,120).
- Clarksville$51,120
- Nashville$48,920
- Knoxville$45,820
- Memphis$45,520
- Chattanooga$43,760
- Cleveland$43,630
- Johnson City$43,010
All Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salaries in Tennessee
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 Memphis: questions
How much do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators make an hour in Memphis?
$21.89 an hour on average, and $18.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators take-home pay in Memphis?
About $38,755 a year ($3,230 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,520. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.0%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.23, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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