Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

O*NET-SOC code: 47-2071.00

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.

Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery high
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
Source dataset (XLSX download)
Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
Source dataset (CSV download)
Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.13
0.09Range of values carried here0.70
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

20 rated tasks · 0 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (0.0%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.

Source: OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release: gh-main-0471612
License: MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.

Task (O*NET 27.2)	βE1 + 0.5 × E2
Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments. O*NET Task ID 4796	0.0
Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors. O*NET Task ID 4797	0.0
Operate machines to spread, smooth, level, or steel-reinforce stone, concrete, or asphalt on road beds. O*NET Task ID 4798	0.0
Operate oil distributors, loaders, chip spreaders, dump trucks, and snow plows. O*NET Task ID 4799	0.0
Coordinate truck dumping. O*NET Task ID 4800	0.0
Set up and tear down equipment. O*NET Task ID 4801	0.0
Operate tamping machines or manually roll surfaces to compact earth fills, foundation forms, and finished road materials, according to grade specifications. O*NET Task ID 4802	0.0
Shovel blacktop. O*NET Task ID 4803	0.0
Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites. O*NET Task ID 4804	0.0
Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material. O*NET Task ID 4805	0.0
Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates. O*NET Task ID 4806	0.0
Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds. O*NET Task ID 4807	0.0
Set up forms and lay out guidelines for curbs, according to written specifications, using string, spray paint, and concrete or water mixes. O*NET Task ID 4808	0.0
Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials. O*NET Task ID 4809	0.0
Drive and operate curbing machines to extrude concrete or asphalt curbing. O*NET Task ID 4810	0.0
Cut or break up pavement and drive guardrail posts, using machines equipped with interchangeable hammers. O*NET Task ID 4811	0.0
Install dies, cutters, and extensions to screeds onto machines, using hand tools. O*NET Task ID 4812	0.0
Operate machines that clean or cut expansion joints in concrete or asphalt and that rout out cracks in pavement. O*NET Task ID 4813	0.0
Place strips of material, such as cork, asphalt, or steel into joints, or place rolls of expansion-joint material on machines that automatically insert material. O*NET Task ID 4814	0.0
Control traffic. O*NET Task ID 20143	0.0

β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (20)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)	Type
Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.	Core
Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors.	Core
Operate machines to spread, smooth, level, or steel-reinforce stone, concrete, or asphalt on road beds.	Core
Operate oil distributors, loaders, chip spreaders, dump trucks, and snow plows.	Core
Coordinate truck dumping.	Core
Set up and tear down equipment.	Core
Operate tamping machines or manually roll surfaces to compact earth fills, foundation forms, and finished road materials, according to grade specifications.	Core
Shovel blacktop.	Core
Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.	Core
Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.	Core
Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.	Core
Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.	Core
Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.	Core
Control traffic.	Core
Set up forms and lay out guidelines for curbs, according to written specifications, using string, spray paint, and concrete or water mixes.	Supplemental
Drive and operate curbing machines to extrude concrete or asphalt curbing.	Supplemental
Cut or break up pavement and drive guardrail posts, using machines equipped with interchangeable hammers.	Supplemental
Install dies, cutters, and extensions to screeds onto machines, using hand tools.	Supplemental
Operate machines that clean or cut expansion joints in concrete or asphalt and that rout out cracks in pavement.	Supplemental
Place strips of material, such as cork, asphalt, or steel into joints, or place rolls of expansion-joint material on machines that automatically insert material.	Supplemental

Anthropic, "What work can robots do?"2026-09

1.85/ 3· Robot exposure index

0 none3 unstructured settings

Scale, basis and source

Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time

Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks

Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.

Source dataset

The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.

Tier of each physical task

Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)

E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site

Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.

Task (O*NET 29.3)	Robot environment tier
Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.	E3 unstructured settings
Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors.	E0 none
Operate machines to spread, smooth, level, or steel-reinforce stone, concrete, or asphalt on road beds.	E3 unstructured settings
Operate oil distributors, loaders, chip spreaders, dump trucks, and snow plows.	E2 structured facilities
Set up and tear down equipment.	E0 none
Operate tamping machines or manually roll surfaces to compact earth fills, foundation forms, and finished road materials, according to grade specifications.	E3 unstructured settings
Shovel blacktop.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.	E2 structured facilities
Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.	E2 structured facilities
Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.	E3 unstructured settings
Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.	E3 unstructured settings
Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Control traffic.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Set up forms and lay out guidelines for curbs, according to written specifications, using string, spray paint, and concrete or water mixes.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Drive and operate curbing machines to extrude concrete or asphalt curbing.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Cut or break up pavement and drive guardrail posts, using machines equipped with interchangeable hammers.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Install dies, cutters, and extensions to screeds onto machines, using hand tools.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Operate machines that clean or cut expansion joints in concrete or asphalt and that rout out cracks in pavement.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Place strips of material, such as cork, asphalt, or steel into joints, or place rolls of expansion-joint material on machines that automatically insert material.	E1 purpose-built robot settings

Employment outlook (BLS)

Employment, 2025: 42K
Projected employment, 2035: 42K
Change (2025–35): -0.9%
Median annual wage, 2025: $53,340
Typical education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent

lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO code	KSCO title	Relation	Status
87405	도로포장기 및 롤러 운전원	Same scope	confirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

ISCO-08 8342Earthmoving and Related Plant Operators

The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.

Earthmoving and related plant operators operate machines to excavate, grade, level, smooth and compact earth or similar materials.

Tasks

(a) operating and monitoring excavating machinery equipped with moveable shovel, grab-bucket or dragline bucket, to excavate and move earth, rock, sand, gravel or similar materials;
(b) operating and monitoring machinery for digging trenches for sewers, drainage, water, oil, gas or similar pipelines;
(c) operating and monitoring machinery equipped with concave steel blade to move, distribute and level earth, sand, snow and other materials;
(d) operating and monitoring equipment to remove sand, gravel and mud from bottom of body of water;
(e) operating and monitoring machines for hammering wooden, concrete or steel piles into ground;
(f) operating and monitoring power roller to compact and smooth layers of materials in making roads, pavements and similar work;
(g) operating and monitoring machines which spread and smooth concrete or bituminous or tar preparations to construct roadways, roads or similar surfaces.

Example occupations

Bulldozer operator · Excavator operator · Front-end loader operator · Pile-driver operator · Road-roller operator · Road surface laying machine operator · Snow-groomer operator

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

road construction workerESCO 8342.6Same scope
Road construction workers perform road construction on earthworks, substructure works and the pavement section of the road. They cover the compacted soil with one or more layers. Road construction workers usually lay a stabilising bed of sand or clay first before adding asphalt or concrete slabs in order to finish a road.
grader operatorESCO 8342.4This occupation is broader
Grader operators work with a heavy piece of mobile equipment that creates a flat surface by slicing off the top soil with a large blade. Graders usually provide a flat finish on the heavy earthmoving work performed by the scraper and bulldozer operators.
road maintenance workerESCO 9312.1.3This occupation is broader
Road maintenance workers perform routine inspections of roads, and are sent out to perform repairs when called for. They patch potholes, cracks and other damage in roads.
road roller operatorESCO 8342.7This occupation is broader
Road roller operators work with equipment to compact a variety of materials, such as soil, gravel, concrete or asphalt, in the construction of roads and foundations. They walk behind, or sit on top of the road roller, depending on the type and size, and roll over the area to be compacted.
scraper operatorESCO 8342.8This occupation is broader
Scraper operators work with a mobile piece of heavy equipment that scrapes the top layer of the ground and deposits it in a hopper to be hauled off. They drive the scraper over the surface to be scraped, adapting the speed of the machine to the hardness of the surface.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME code	ROME title (French)	Relation
F1302	Conducteur / Conductrice d'engins de chantier	This occupation is narrower
F1702	Ouvrier / Ouvrière en voieries urbaines	Related, not a match

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 code	CNO-11 title (Spanish)	Relation
8331	Operadores de maquinaria de movimientos de tierras y equipos similares	This occupation is narrower

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB code	KldB title (German)	Relation
52522	Führer/innen von Erdbewegungs- und verwandten Maschinen - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten	This occupation is narrower
32222	Berufe im Straßen- und Asphaltbau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten	Related, not a match

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO code	JSCO title (Japanese)	Relation
645	建設・さく井機械運転従事者	This occupation is narrower
681	土木従事者	Related, not a match

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources