Highway Maintenance Workers

Also Called: Equipment Operator (EO), Highway Maintainer, Highway Maintenance Worker, Transportation Maintenance Specialist (TMS)

High School Diploma/GED

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$32,280

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Highway Maintenance Workers 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.

  • 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.
Industry Areas:

Transportation

Training Program Areas:

Heavy Equipment Operations • OCT-Only Transportation

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Outdoors, Exposed to Weather
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Exposed to Contaminants
  • Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable

Tools

  • Mowers
  • Drain or pipe cleaning equipment
  • Aggregate spreaders
  • Dump trucks
  • Bituminous material distributors

Technology

Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Word processing software
Microsoft Word

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Operation and Control
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Coordination
  • Monitoring
  • Active Listening

Knowledge

Safety and Government
public safety and security
Arts and Humanities
English language
Transportation
movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Engineering and Technology
building and construction

Education

  • 88% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 5% Less than high school diploma
  • 5% Associate's degree

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Highway Maintenance Workers Currently Selected

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Motorboat Operators

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades & Extraction Workers

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

Transportation Engineers

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

  • Aaniiih Nakoda College

    Harlem, MT

  • Pittsburgh - Job Corps

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

ACT & College

  • Atlantic Technical Center

    Coconut Creek, FL

  • Bakersfield College

    Bakersfield, CA

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

Military

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Conventional (Organizer)
    • Realistic (Doer)

Work Styles

  • Dependability
  • Concern for Others
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Self Control

Values

  • Support
  • Relationships
  • Working Conditions

Abilities

  • Controlled Movement
  • Hand and Finger Use
  • Endurance
  • Attention

This is what Highway Maintenance Workers across the country typically make.

$15.52 / hour
$32,280 /year

Entry Level

$22.77 / hour
$47,360 /year

Median Level

$31.95 / hour
$66,450 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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