Highway Maintenance Workers
Highway Maintenance Workers (SOC 47-4051) earn a median $50,260 a year ($24.16 an hour) in the United States, with 154,960 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Oregon.
What highway maintenance workers do
Highway maintenance workers keep up highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways and rights-of-way. The work includes filling in broken or eroded pavement and fixing or installing guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, highway lighting and snow fences. They set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic, flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead, and clean debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches and other drain structures. Heavy equipment and vehicles with adjustable attachments are driven to clean paved surfaces, cut grass and weeds, clear snow and ice, and spread salt and sand; sand, gravel and clay are hauled and spread to fill washouts and repair shoulders. Workers may also clear brush along the road, drive trucks to carry crews and equipment to sites, and perform preventive maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment. Tree trimmers and pruners (37-3013) are excluded and have their own code.
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Asphalt Raker, Caltrans Equipment Operator, Certified Flagger, Construction Flagger, Equipment Operator (EO).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.42 | $20.91 | $24.16 | $29.35 | $34.60 | $25.52 | 154,960 |
| Annual | $36,230 | $43,500 | $50,260 | $61,040 | $71,970 | $53,080 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where highway maintenance workers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $24.43 | $27.98 | $31.41 | $33.81 | $33.81 | $30.60 | 1,650 | 0.84 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $50,810 | $58,200 | $65,330 | $70,320 | $70,320 | $63,650 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $26.36 | $30.03 | $31.39 | $36.07 | $38.49 | $32.63 | 2,590 | 0.73 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $54,830 | $62,460 | $65,300 | $75,030 | $80,060 | $67,870 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $27.75 | $29.66 | $31.19 | $35.09 | $38.22 | $32.07 | 2,130 | 1.25 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $57,710 | $61,690 | $64,870 | $72,990 | $79,490 | $66,700 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $21.95 | $26.83 | $30.36 | $31.80 | $34.93 | $28.98 | 4,610 | 1.56 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $45,660 | $55,810 | $63,150 | $66,150 | $72,650 | $60,280 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.15 | $21.90 | $29.66 | $42.69 | $48.46 | $31.93 | 10,790 | 1.77 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $35,680 | $45,550 | $61,700 | $88,790 | $100,790 | $66,410 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $21.23 | $23.21 | $26.54 | $30.27 | $36.39 | $27.49 | 13,820 | 1.43 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $44,150 | $48,280 | $55,210 | $62,970 | $75,690 | $57,190 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $17.71 | $19.43 | $22.93 | $28.38 | $31.75 | $24.07 | 11,140 | 1.84 | 1.84 |
| Annual | $36,830 | $40,410 | $47,690 | $59,040 | $66,050 | $50,060 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.15 | $21.90 | $29.66 | $42.69 | $48.46 | $31.93 | 10,790 | 1.77 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $35,680 | $45,550 | $61,700 | $88,790 | $100,790 | $66,410 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $21.53 | $23.82 | $28.64 | $36.78 | $40.63 | $30.32 | 8,150 | 0.45 | 0.45 |
| Annual | $44,780 | $49,550 | $59,580 | $76,510 | $84,520 | $63,070 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $15.58 | $17.99 | $21.90 | $23.93 | $28.36 | $21.53 | 6,630 | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $32,410 | $37,430 | $45,540 | $49,770 | $58,990 | $44,770 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $25.33 | $28.61 | $37.98 | $49.04 | $66.37 | $40.62 | 360 | 0.32 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $52,680 | $59,500 | $79,000 | $102,000 | $138,040 | $84,480 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $27.50 | $29.85 | $36.78 | $40.63 | $46.08 | $36.43 | 100 | 0.67 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $57,210 | $62,090 | $76,510 | $84,520 | $95,840 | $75,770 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $20.25 | $25.55 | $36.64 | $43.82 | $49.29 | $34.84 | 4,110 | 0.91 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $42,110 | $53,130 | $76,220 | $91,140 | $102,530 | $72,470 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $31.20 | $33.26 | $36.07 | $38.56 | $43.72 | $36.29 | 820 | 0.39 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $64,900 | $69,170 | $75,030 | $80,200 | $90,930 | $75,480 | ||||
| Kankakee, IL | Hourly | $18.81 | $21.96 | $35.14 | $37.78 | $48.46 | $32.46 | 100 | 2.35 | 2.35 |
| Annual | $39,130 | $45,680 | $73,080 | $78,570 | $100,790 | $67,520 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.73 | $22.81 | $28.98 | $36.27 | $40.77 | $29.63 | 6,800 | 0.72 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $38,950 | $47,440 | $60,280 | $75,440 | $84,810 | $61,630 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $20.25 | $25.55 | $36.64 | $43.82 | $49.29 | $34.84 | 4,110 | 0.91 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $42,110 | $53,130 | $76,220 | $91,140 | $102,530 | $72,470 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $19.43 | $19.61 | $21.10 | $28.83 | $35.43 | $24.90 | 3,450 | 1.19 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $40,410 | $40,790 | $43,890 | $59,970 | $73,690 | $51,800 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $20.73 | $23.13 | $28.14 | $36.92 | $38.78 | $29.62 | 2,330 | 0.37 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $43,130 | $48,120 | $58,540 | $76,800 | $80,660 | $61,600 | ||||
| Pittsburgh, PA | Hourly | $18.52 | $21.93 | $23.90 | $30.04 | $33.33 | $25.41 | 2,270 | 2.04 | 2.05 |
| Annual | $38,520 | $45,620 | $49,710 | $62,480 | $69,330 | $52,850 | ||||
Top industries employing highway maintenance workers
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 71.2% of highway maintenance workers nationally (110,300 jobs) at a median $49,500 a year ($23.80 an hour), followed by State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (24.8%) and Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (2.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 110,300 | 71.2% | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 38,360 | 24.8% | $53,100 | $25.53 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction NAICS 237300 | 3,660 | 2.4% | $49,210 | $23.66 |
| Other Support Services NAICS 561900 | 520 | 0.3% | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 470 | 0.3% | * | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (154,960). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $45,880 for highway maintenance workers in May 2021 and $50,260 in May 2025, with employment of 141,150 and 154,960.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $45,880 | $22.06 | 141,150 |
| May 2022 | $44,930 | $21.60 | 143,330 |
| May 2023 | $47,360 | $22.77 | 150,860 |
| May 2024 | $49,070 | $23.59 | 151,750 |
| May 2025 | $50,260 | $24.16 | 154,960 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
49 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon profile | $31.41 | $65,330 | $50,810 | $70,320 | 1,650 | 0.84 | 0.84 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $31.39 | $65,300 | $54,830 | $80,060 | 2,590 | 0.73 | 0.73 |
| 3 | Connecticut profile | $31.19 | $64,870 | $57,710 | $79,490 | 2,130 | 1.25 | 1.26 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $30.36 | $63,150 | $45,660 | $72,650 | 4,610 | 1.56 | 1.57 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $29.66 | $61,700 | $35,680 | $100,790 | 10,790 | 1.77 | 1.78 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $29.57 | $61,500 | $46,460 | $79,860 | 2,000 | 0.55 | 0.55 |
| 7 | Montana profile | $29.31 | $60,960 | $50,650 | $65,610 | 1,140 | 2.24 | 2.24 |
| 8 | North Dakota profile | $29.15 | $60,630 | $47,400 | $78,510 | 1,240 | 2.90 | 2.91 |
| 9 | California profile | $28.64 | $59,580 | $44,780 | $84,520 | 8,150 | 0.45 | 0.45 |
| 10 | Iowa profile | $28.12 | $58,490 | $47,380 | $67,980 | 4,000 | 2.57 | 2.58 |
| 11 | Vermont profile | $28.11 | $58,460 | $47,080 | $67,910 | 1,170 | 3.86 | 3.87 |
| 12 | Wisconsin profile | $27.88 | $58,000 | $42,970 | $66,150 | 6,000 | 2.04 | 2.05 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $27.86 | $57,950 | $46,480 | $63,910 | 620 | 1.23 | 1.23 |
| 14 | Utah profile | $26.91 | $55,970 | $44,430 | $69,310 | 1,240 | 0.72 | 0.72 |
| 15 | New York profile | $26.54 | $55,210 | $44,150 | $75,690 | 13,820 | 1.43 | 1.43 |
| 16 | Alaska profile | $26.01 | $54,090 | $46,060 | $77,710 | 50 | 0.15 | 0.15 |
| 17 | Michigan profile | $25.84 | $53,750 | $34,830 | $63,460 | 5,230 | 1.19 | 1.19 |
| 18 | Colorado profile | $25.17 | $52,350 | $44,940 | $66,780 | 1,990 | 0.69 | 0.70 |
| 19 | Idaho profile | $25.02 | $52,050 | $43,260 | $70,840 | 1,340 | 1.57 | 1.57 |
| 20 | New Jersey profile | $24.87 | $51,720 | $36,810 | $80,360 | 4,850 | 1.13 | 1.13 |
| 21 | New Hampshire profile | $24.54 | $51,050 | $41,520 | $61,410 | 1,230 | 1.80 | 1.81 |
| 22 | Arizona profile | $24.45 | $50,850 | $38,020 | $63,910 | 1,410 | 0.44 | 0.44 |
| 23 | Virginia profile | $24.42 | $50,800 | $41,540 | $62,850 | 3,400 | 0.83 | 0.83 |
| 24 | Nevada profile | $23.71 | $49,320 | $36,070 | $74,410 | 990 | 0.64 | 0.64 |
| 25 | Maine profile | $23.57 | $49,030 | $37,040 | $60,320 | 1,620 | 2.54 | 2.55 |
| 26 | Maryland profile | $23.57 | $49,030 | $38,090 | $78,830 | 620 | 0.23 | 0.23 |
| 27 | Ohio profile | $23.50 | $48,880 | $36,570 | $67,280 | 6,070 | 1.09 | 1.10 |
| 28 | Nebraska profile | $23.39 | $48,650 | $42,310 | $60,060 | 2,580 | 2.52 | 2.53 |
| 29 | South Dakota profile | $23.37 | $48,610 | $39,030 | $61,490 | 1,800 | 3.94 | 3.95 |
| 30 | Indiana profile | $23.31 | $48,480 | $40,300 | $62,510 | 4,380 | 1.37 | 1.37 |
| 31 | Wyoming profile | $23.17 | $48,190 | $42,970 | $66,410 | 820 | 2.91 | 2.92 |
| 32 | South Carolina profile | $23.14 | $48,130 | $37,740 | $60,780 | 2,290 | 0.99 | 1.00 |
| 33 | North Carolina profile | $23.02 | $47,880 | $34,980 | $58,870 | 3,750 | 0.76 | 0.76 |
| 34 | New Mexico profile | $22.95 | $47,740 | $33,770 | $59,380 | 1,470 | 1.68 | 1.69 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.93 | $47,690 | $36,830 | $66,050 | 11,140 | 1.84 | 1.84 |
| 36 | Missouri profile | $22.82 | $47,470 | $37,970 | $61,440 | 5,470 | 1.86 | 1.87 |
| 37 | Tennessee profile | $22.15 | $46,070 | $32,180 | $57,270 | 2,280 | 0.70 | 0.70 |
| 38 | Kansas profile | $22.14 | $46,050 | $37,730 | $58,160 | 1,960 | 1.37 | 1.37 |
| 39 | Texas profile | $21.90 | $45,540 | $32,410 | $58,990 | 6,630 | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| 40 | Delaware profile | $21.85 | $45,450 | $35,680 | $63,050 | 90 | 0.19 | 0.19 |
| 41 | West Virginia profile | $21.76 | $45,260 | $31,440 | $53,910 | 730 | 1.04 | 1.04 |
| 42 | Louisiana profile | $21.53 | $44,790 | $27,760 | $63,010 | 1,050 | 0.54 | 0.54 |
| 43 | Florida profile | $20.29 | $42,210 | $33,610 | $57,220 | 2,530 | 0.26 | 0.26 |
| 44 | Kentucky profile | $19.42 | $40,400 | $30,030 | $50,750 | 3,030 | 1.51 | 1.52 |
| 45 | Oklahoma profile | $18.67 | $38,840 | $31,220 | $48,150 | 3,180 | 1.87 | 1.87 |
| 46 | Georgia profile | $18.06 | $37,560 | $30,600 | $48,760 | 1,980 | 0.41 | 0.41 |
| 47 | Alabama profile | $18.00 | $37,430 | $27,620 | $52,750 | 2,730 | 1.29 | 1.30 |
| 48 | Arkansas profile | $17.19 | $35,740 | $27,190 | $46,110 | 860 | 0.66 | 0.66 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $16.89 | $35,120 | $27,700 | $45,170 | 4,160 | 3.58 | 3.59 |
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-4051 Highway Maintenance Workers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-4051, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-4051.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.