Highway Maintenance Workers
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way. Duties include patching broken or eroded pavement and repairing guard rails, highway markers, and snow fences. May also mow or clear brush from along road, or plow snow from roadway.
Median pay: $50,260/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 12,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.
• Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
• Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment.
• Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites.
• Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools.
• Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures.
• Drive heavy equipment and vehicles with adjustable attachments to sweep debris from paved surfaces, mow grass and weeds, remove snow and ice, and spread salt and sand.
• Haul and spread sand, gravel, and clay to fill washouts and repair road shoulders.
What's the median pay for Highway Maintenance Workers?
The median pay for Highway Maintenance Workers is $50,260 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Highway Maintenance Workers?
Employment for Highway Maintenance Workers is projected to change +3% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Highway Maintenance Workers?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Highway Maintenance Workers?
About 12,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.