Description
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.
Interests
- Realistic
- Conventional
Work Values
- Support
- Relationships
- Independence
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Independence
- Self-Control
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.
- 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.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Performing General Physical Activities
Detailed Work Activities
- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
Technology Skills
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Time accounting software
Abilities
- Control Precision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Multilimb Coordination
- Rate Control
- Reaction Time
Skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Building and Construction
- Mechanical
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Concrete Strength Testing TechnicianCertifying Organization
American Concrete Institute International
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Equipment ManagerCertifying Organization
Association of Equipment Management Professionals
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
ACI Shotcrete Nozzleman (Wet-Mix Process)Certifying Organization
American Concrete Institute International
Type
Core
Certificate name
Highway Materials - Level IICertifying Organization
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Fluid Power Mobile Hydraulic TechnicianCertifying Organization
International Fluid Power Society
Type
Advanced
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $43,513 |
| Median (50%) | $52,755 |
| High (90%) | $62,360 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $50,125 |
| Mid Level | $58,014 |
| Senior Level | $60,395 |
| Expert Level | N/A |
Employability
There are currently 44,500 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 46,300 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 4%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 4%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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