Highway Maintenance Workers
SOC code 47-4051 · O*NET-SOC 47-4051.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Skilled trades
Highway Maintenance Workers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$50,260
a year
Hourly
$24.16
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$53,080
$25.52 per hour
Middle 50%
$43,500 – $61,040
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,230 – $71,970
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
154,960
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,230
- $17.42/hr
- 25th percentile
- $43,500
- $20.91/hr
- Median percentile
- $50,260
- $24.16/hr
- 75th percentile
- $61,040
- $29.35/hr
- 90th percentile
- $71,970
- $34.60/hr
What does a highway maintenance worker do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a highway maintenance worker
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 88% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)88%
- Less than a High School Diploma5%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate1%
Common questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker earn?
The national median is $50,260 a year. The full range runs from $36,230 at the 10th percentile to $71,970 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a highway maintenance worker without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security4.2/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Transportation3.3/5
- Building and Construction3.2/5
- Education and Training3.0/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Mechanical3.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Troubleshooting.