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Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.
Other titles employers use
Asphalt Paver Operator · Asphalt Paving Machine Operator · Asphalt Raker · Asphalt Roller Operator · Equipment Operator (EO) · Loader Operator · Maintenance Equipment Operator (MEO) · Paver Operator
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
- Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
- Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
- Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
- Coordinate truck dumping.
- Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Troubleshooting
Subjects to know
- Building and Construction
- Mechanical
Useful strengths
- Control Precision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Multilimb Coordination
- Rate Control
- Reaction Time
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.0 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.2 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.3 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.2 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 79%
- A certificate or some college 21%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Electronic mail software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Project management software
- Time accounting software
- Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 4,660
- Job openings each year
- 420
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 13.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4,660 | 420 | 13.7% |
| Florida | 3,570 | 320 | 14.1% |
| New York | 3,490 | 20 | 7.7% |
| Illinois | 2,230 | 190 | 3.7% |
| California | 2,100 | 190 | 16.7% |
| Colorado | 1,960 | 180 | 12.6% |
| Georgia | 1,890 | 180 | 18.1% |
| Tennessee | 1,720 | 160 | 23.7% |
| Michigan | 1,710 | 150 | 2.4% |
| Missouri | 1,610 | 140 | 5.2% |
| Ohio | 1,580 | 140 | 6.0% |
| Virginia | 1,480 | 130 | 4.2% |
| New Jersey | 1,160 | 100 | 5.5% |
| Minnesota | 1,130 | 100 | 10.8% |
| Washington | 1,050 | 120 | 20.7% |
| Utah | 990 | 100 | 32.0% |
| North Carolina | 980 | 90 | 11.4% |
| Arizona | 860 | 80 | 7.5% |
| Oklahoma | 820 | 70 | 2.5% |
| Alabama | 810 | 70 | 11.0% |
| Idaho | 770 | 70 | 16.7% |
| Indiana | 760 | 70 | 4.1% |
| South Carolina | 720 | 60 | 12.5% |
| Maryland | 700 | 60 | 9.4% |
| Mississippi | 570 | 50 | 18.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 520 | 50 | 4.0% |
| Iowa | 480 | 40 | 9.1% |
| Kansas | 470 | 40 | 4.4% |
| Massachusetts | 420 | 40 | 7.7% |
| Nevada | 420 | 40 | 10.5% |
| New Mexico | 400 | 40 | 11.1% |
| Wisconsin | 400 | 40 | 11.1% |
| West Virginia | 390 | 30 | 5.4% |
| Oregon | 360 | 30 | 16.1% |
| Maine | 340 | 30 | — |
| Kentucky | 300 | 30 | 3.4% |
| Nebraska | 290 | 30 | 11.5% |
| Louisiana | 270 | 30 | 17.4% |
| New Hampshire | 260 | 20 | 13.0% |
| South Dakota | 220 | 20 | 10.0% |
| Montana | 210 | 20 | 23.5% |
| Arkansas | 190 | 20 | 5.6% |
| Connecticut | 180 | 20 | 12.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 170 | 10 | 6.3% |
| Delaware | 160 | 10 | 6.7% |
| District of Columbia | 160 | 20 | 14.3% |
| Vermont | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Rhode Island | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Alaska | 70 | 10 | — |
| Wyoming | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.