Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
SOC Code: 47-2071 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $63,544 | $83,720 | $103,896 | $124,072 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $63,440 | $82,742 | $102,066 | $121,368 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $60,986 | $81,099 | $101,192 | $121,306 |
| Modesto, CA | $62,130 | $81,411 | $100,714 | $119,995 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,734 | $81,058 | $100,360 | $119,683 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,571 | $78,458 | $97,344 | $116,230 |
| Vallejo, CA | $58,989 | $77,792 | $96,574 | $115,378 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58,302 | $77,293 | $96,304 | $115,294 |
| El Centro, CA | $56,784 | $75,712 | $94,661 | $113,589 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $55,682 | $73,674 | $91,686 | $109,678 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.6 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.4 | |
| Monitoring | 3.2 | |
| Repairing | 3.0 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Equipment Maintenance | 2.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 | |
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Building and Construction | 3.6 |
| Mechanical | 3.3 |
| Mathematics | 2.8 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.7 |
| Physics | 2.7 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.7 |
| Chemistry | 2.5 |
| Design | 2.4 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school | 41.0% |
| High school diploma | 38.4% |
| Some college | 20.6% |
Typical Tasks
- Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
- Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors.
- Operate machines to spread, smooth, level, or steel-reinforce stone, concrete, or asphalt on road beds.
- Operate oil distributors, loaders, chip spreaders, dump trucks, and snow plows.
- Coordinate truck dumping.
- Set up and tear down equipment.
- Operate tamping machines or manually roll surfaces to compact earth fills, foundation forms, and finished road materials, according to grade specifications.
- Shovel blacktop.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Database software Email software HCSS HeavyBid Spreadsheet software Time report software Warehouse management system WMS Word processing software
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