SOC 47-2071 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators — Minnesota
Minnesota · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Minnesota is $68,180 per year, well above the national median of $53,340.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Minnesota is $68,180 per year, well above the national median of $53,340. The gap of 27.8% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $61,930 and $80,450. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $50,310 and the ninetieth at $99,920.
The area has 830 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.3 of every thousand jobs. Minnesota ranks number 11th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Rochester records the highest median at $82,730. Of the 721 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 341st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,310 | −5.7% |
| 25th | $61,930 | +16.1% |
| Median (50th) | $68,180 | +27.8% |
| 75th | $80,450 | +50.8% |
| 90th | $99,920 | +87.3% |
| Mean | $71,850 | +34.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Minnesota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester | $82,730 | 40 | |
| 2 | Minneapolis | $72,080 | 330 | |
| 3 | Duluth | $68,180 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Minnesota sit close to the national average, so $68,180 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$68,180as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$69,148US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $68,180 a year, 27.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,310 to $99,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 830 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 11th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Rochester, at $82,730.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Minnesota?
The median annual wage is $68,180, or $32.78 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $53,340, so pay in Minnesota is 27.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Minnesota earns more than $99,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,310 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Rochester, at $82,730 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 830 jobs in this occupation in Minnesota. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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