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Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Salary in Vermont: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary really buy you in Vermont?

Vermont is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$54,830
Median annual (2025)
-1.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$54,233
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.1)

Vermont Cost of Living Index

Vermont's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.1, meaning prices are 1.1% higher the national average. A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators earning $54,830 in Vermont has the equivalent purchasing power of $54,233 in an average-cost US state.

VT: 101.1
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Vermont's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $49,920 $49,376 $-543
25th Percentile (P25) $49,930 $49,386 $-543
Median (P50) $54,830 $54,233 $-596
75th Percentile (P75) $62,050 $61,374 $-675
90th Percentile (P90) $62,060 $61,384 $-675
Key Insight

Vermont's cost of living is close to the national average, so $54,830 keeps most of its value at $54,233 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Vermont Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.1

With an RPP of 101.1, Vermont is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.1%

After adjusting for Vermont's cost of living, $54,830 nominal nets out to $54,233 in real purchasing power — a small 1.1% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#31 / 50

Vermont's rank of #31 of 50 states means real purchasing power for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (After Cost of Living)

Where does Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Hawaii
$100,505
RPP 110.8
$82,449
RPP 109.8
3. Alaska
$81,882
RPP 102.0
4. Idaho
$79,749
RPP 91.8
$78,284
RPP 116.6
$76,180
RPP 91.1
$74,777
RPP 92.3
$73,893
RPP 112.5
$72,819
RPP 106.4
10. Illinois
$72,122
RPP 101.3

Vermont ranks #31 out of 50 states for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators take-home pay in Vermont after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Vermont after cost of living?

A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Vermont earns a median salary of $54,830 per year. After adjusting for Vermont's cost of living (RPP=101.1), the real purchasing power is $54,233 — a -1.1% difference.

Is Vermont expensive to live in?

Vermont's cost of living is 1.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Vermont is 101.1 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Vermont: $54,830 x (100 / 101.1) = $54,233. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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