What does a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary really buy you in Connecticut?
Connecticut is 6.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Connecticut's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 106.4, meaning prices are 6.4% higher the national average. A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators earning $59,710 in Connecticut has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,118 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Connecticut's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $53,490 | $50,272 | $-3,217 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $57,480 | $54,022 | $-3,457 |
| Median (P50) | $59,710 | $56,118 | $-3,591 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $75,610 | $71,062 | $-4,547 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,670 | $92,734 | $-5,935 |
While $59,710 sounds high, Connecticut's elevated cost of living erases 6% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $56,118. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Connecticut ranks #25 out of 49 states for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Connecticut earns a median salary of $59,710 per year. After adjusting for Connecticut's cost of living (RPP=106.4), the real purchasing power is $56,118 — a -6.0% difference.
Connecticut's cost of living is 6.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Connecticut is 106.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Connecticut: $59,710 x (100 / 106.4) = $56,118. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators's nominal salary of $59,710 in Connecticut has 6.0% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $56,118. However, Connecticut may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.