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Highway maintenance worker: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$50,260median pay per year, or $24.16 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,230lowest 10% earn less
  2. $43,50025th percentile
  3. $50,260median
  4. $61,04075th percentile
  5. $71,970top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

A highway maintenance worker had a median pay of $50,260 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.4%[2]
Openings per year
11,800[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do highway maintenance workers make?

The median pay for Highway Maintenance Workers was $50,260 a year, or $24.16 an hour[1]. About half of workers earned more than that median, and the other half earned less[1]. The average was $53,080 a year, or $25.52 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,230 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $71,970[3]. The 25th percentile was $43,500 and the 75th percentile was $61,040[3]. In hourly terms, those boundaries were $17.42, $20.91, $29.35 and $34.60 for the 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentiles[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

These figures cover full-time and part-time wage and salary jobs. They leave out self-employed people and do not include bonuses or benefits costs[10]. About 1% of highway maintenance workers were self-employed in 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Among 49 states with published data, Oregon had the highest median pay at $65,330, followed by Washington at $65,300 and Connecticut at $64,870[12]. Mississippi had the lowest at $35,120[12].

The states with the most jobs were New York (13,820), Pennsylvania (11,140), Illinois (10,790), California (8,150) and Texas (6,630)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $79,000, followed by Vallejo, CA at $76,510 and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $76,220[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 6,800[15].

Show median pay in 49 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[12]$65,3301,650
Washington$65,3002,590
Connecticut$64,8702,130
Minnesota$63,1504,610
Illinois$61,70010,790
Massachusetts$61,5002,000
Montana$60,9601,140
North Dakota$60,6301,240
California$59,5808,150
Iowa$58,4904,000
Vermont$58,4601,170
Wisconsin$58,0006,000
Rhode Island$57,950620
Utah$55,9701,240
New York$55,21013,820
Alaska$54,09050
Michigan$53,7505,230
Colorado$52,3501,990
Idaho$52,0501,340
New Jersey$51,7204,850
New Hampshire$51,0501,230
Arizona$50,8501,410
Virginia$50,8003,400
Nevada$49,320990
Maine$49,0301,620
Maryland$49,030620
Ohio$48,8806,070
Nebraska$48,6502,580
South Dakota$48,6101,800
Indiana$48,4804,380
Wyoming$48,190820
South Carolina$48,1302,290
North Carolina$47,8803,750
New Mexico$47,7401,470
Pennsylvania$47,69011,140
Missouri$47,4705,470
Tennessee$46,0702,280
Kansas$46,0501,960
Texas$45,5406,630
Delaware$45,45090
West Virginia$45,260730
Louisiana$44,7901,050
Florida$42,2102,530
Kentucky$40,4003,030
Oklahoma$38,8403,180
Georgia$37,5601,980
Alabama$37,4302,730
Arkansas$35,740860
Mississippi$35,1204,160

How to become a highway maintenance worker

The typical path looks like this:

In an ONET survey of 20 workers, 88% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, and 5% said less than a diploma[16]. ONET places the job in a group where some roles need little experience and others need several months to a year[17].

What highway maintenance workers do

These workers keep roads, runways and the land beside them in repair[18]. Tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include highway maintainer and transportation maintenance operator[20].

Job outlook

Employment is projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 161,800 to 167,300 jobs[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[21]. So the job is expected to grow at about the same pace as the average.

About 11,800 openings are projected each year[5]. Openings count jobs that come open when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.7% of workers leave the labor force and 4.1% move to a different occupation[22]. Projection counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the 154,960 wage and salary jobs counted in May 2025[23][2].

Is it a good fit?

Pay sits close to the all-occupation median, at $50,260 against $50,980[1][4]. Entry needs a high school diploma or equivalent and no related experience, with training on the job[6]. Pay varies a lot by state, from $35,120 in Mississippi to $65,330 in Oregon[12]. Growth is about the same as for all occupations[2][21].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a highway maintenance worker make an hour?
The median was $24.16 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $25.52[1][7].
What education do you need to be a highway maintenance worker?
A high school diploma or equivalent, with no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
Is highway maintenance work in demand?
Jobs are projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 11,800 openings a year[2][21][5].
What is the highest paying state for highway maintenance workers?
Oregon, with a median of $65,330 a year, followed by Washington at $65,300[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Highway Maintenance Workers in the US was $50,260 per year and $24.16 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Highway Maintenance Workers is projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 161,800 to 167,300 jobs (a change of +5,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Highway Maintenance Workers: 10th percentile $36,230, 25th percentile $43,500, 75th percentile $61,040, 90th percentile $71,970. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 11,800 openings for Highway Maintenance Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Highway Maintenance Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Highway Maintenance Workers was $53,080 per year and $25.52 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Highway Maintenance Workers: 10th percentile $17.42, 25th percentile $20.91, 75th percentile $29.35, 90th percentile $34.60. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 1% of Highway Maintenance Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Highway Maintenance Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Highway Maintenance Workers jobs: New York 13,820; Pennsylvania 11,140; Illinois 10,790; California 8,150; Texas 6,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Highway Maintenance Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $79,000; Vallejo, CA $76,510; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $76,220; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $75,030; Kankakee, IL $73,080; Springfield, IL $71,320; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $68,720; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $66,310. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Highway Maintenance Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,800 (median $60,280); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 4,110 (median $76,220); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 3,450 (median $43,890); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,330 (median $58,540); Pittsburgh, PA 2,270 (median $49,710); St. Louis, MO-IL 1,960 (median $52,160). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 47-4051.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 88%, Less than a High School Diploma 5%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 47-4051.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. 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. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Highway Maintenance Workers. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Highway Maintenance Workers. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 47-4051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Equipment Operator (EO), Highway Maintainer, Highway Maintenance Crew Worker, Highway Maintenance Technician, Highway Maintenance Worker, Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Worker, Transportation Maintenance Operator. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Highway Maintenance Workers: 2.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 154,960 people were employed as Highway Maintenance Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.