Highway maintenance workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,230 | $17.42 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| Mean (average) | $53,080 | $25.52 |
| 90th percentile | $71,970 | $34.60 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Highway maintenance workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,430 | $27,620 | $52,750 | 2,730 | 1.3 |
| Alaska | $54,090 | $46,060 | $77,710 | 50 | 0.15 |
| Arizona | $50,850 | $38,020 | $63,910 | 1,410 | 0.44 |
| Arkansas | $35,740 | $27,190 | $46,110 | 860 | 0.66 |
| California | $59,580 | $44,780 | $84,520 | 8,150 | 0.45 |
| Colorado | $52,350 | $44,940 | $66,780 | 1,990 | 0.7 |
| Connecticut | $64,870 | $57,710 | $79,490 | 2,130 | 1.26 |
| Delaware | $45,450 | $35,680 | $63,050 | 90 | 0.19 |
| Florida | $42,210 | $33,610 | $57,220 | 2,530 | 0.26 |
| Georgia | $37,560 | $30,600 | $48,760 | 1,980 | 0.41 |
| Idaho | $52,050 | $43,260 | $70,840 | 1,340 | 1.57 |
| Illinois | $61,700 | $35,680 | $100,790 | 10,790 | 1.78 |
| Indiana | $48,480 | $40,300 | $62,510 | 4,380 | 1.37 |
| Iowa | $58,490 | $47,380 | $67,980 | 4,000 | 2.58 |
| Kansas | $46,050 | $37,730 | $58,160 | 1,960 | 1.37 |
| Kentucky | $40,400 | $30,030 | $50,750 | 3,030 | 1.52 |
| Louisiana | $44,790 | $27,760 | $63,010 | 1,050 | 0.54 |
| Maine | $49,030 | $37,040 | $60,320 | 1,620 | 2.55 |
| Maryland | $49,030 | $38,090 | $78,830 | 620 | 0.23 |
| Massachusetts | $61,500 | $46,460 | $79,860 | 2,000 | 0.55 |
| Michigan | $53,750 | $34,830 | $63,460 | 5,230 | 1.19 |
| Minnesota | $63,150 | $45,660 | $72,650 | 4,610 | 1.57 |
| Mississippi | $35,120 | $27,700 | $45,170 | 4,160 | 3.59 |
| Missouri | $47,470 | $37,970 | $61,440 | 5,470 | 1.87 |
| Montana | $60,960 | $50,650 | $65,610 | 1,140 | 2.24 |
| Nebraska | $48,650 | $42,310 | $60,060 | 2,580 | 2.53 |
| Nevada | $49,320 | $36,070 | $74,410 | 990 | 0.64 |
| New Hampshire | $51,050 | $41,520 | $61,410 | 1,230 | 1.81 |
| New Jersey | $51,720 | $36,810 | $80,360 | 4,850 | 1.13 |
| New Mexico | $47,740 | $33,770 | $59,380 | 1,470 | 1.69 |
| New York | $55,210 | $44,150 | $75,690 | 13,820 | 1.43 |
| North Carolina | $47,880 | $34,980 | $58,870 | 3,750 | 0.76 |
| North Dakota | $60,630 | $47,400 | $78,510 | 1,240 | 2.91 |
| Ohio | $48,880 | $36,570 | $67,280 | 6,070 | 1.1 |
| Oklahoma | $38,840 | $31,220 | $48,150 | 3,180 | 1.87 |
| Oregon | $65,330 | $50,810 | $70,320 | 1,650 | 0.84 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,690 | $36,830 | $66,050 | 11,140 | 1.84 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | $21,840 | $48,300 | 2,730 | 2.92 |
| Rhode Island | $57,950 | $46,480 | $63,910 | 620 | 1.23 |
| South Carolina | $48,130 | $37,740 | $60,780 | 2,290 | 1 |
| South Dakota | $48,610 | $39,030 | $61,490 | 1,800 | 3.95 |
| Tennessee | $46,070 | $32,180 | $57,270 | 2,280 | 0.7 |
| Texas | $45,540 | $32,410 | $58,990 | 6,630 | 0.47 |
| Utah | $55,970 | $44,430 | $69,310 | 1,240 | 0.72 |
| Vermont | $58,460 | $47,080 | $67,910 | 1,170 | 3.87 |
| Virginia | $50,800 | $41,540 | $62,850 | 3,400 | 0.83 |
| Washington | $65,300 | $54,830 | $80,060 | 2,590 | 0.73 |
| West Virginia | $45,260 | $31,440 | $53,910 | 730 | 1.04 |
| Wisconsin | $58,000 | $42,970 | $66,150 | 6,000 | 2.05 |
| Wyoming | $48,190 | $42,970 | $66,410 | 820 | 2.92 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for highway maintenance workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 11,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for highway maintenance workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation CIP 49.0202
- Flagging and Traffic Control CIP 49.0207
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Database software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Troubleshooting.
Common job titles: Equipment Operator (EO), Highway Maintainer, Highway Maintenance Crew Worker, Highway Maintenance Technician, Highway Maintenance Worker, Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Worker, Transportation Maintenance Operator, Transportation Maintenance Specialist (TMS), Transportation Worker.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do highway maintenance workers make?
The national median annual wage for highway maintenance workers was $50,260 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,230 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $71,970. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do highway maintenance workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is highway maintenance workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of highway maintenance workers to change +3.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 11,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay highway maintenance workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oregon ($65,330), Washington ($65,300), Connecticut ($64,870). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.