How to hire a highway maintenance worker

How to hire a highway maintenance worker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step highway maintenance worker hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a highway maintenance worker job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new highway maintenance worker
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a highway maintenance worker do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your highway maintenance worker job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a highway maintenance worker for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect highway maintenance worker also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of highway maintenance workers.

   Type of Highway Maintenance Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Highway Maintenance Worker		$14-25
   Maintenance Worker	Maintenance workers are employees assigned to oversee the equipment, furniture, and fixtures in the office. They ensure that these items work correctly by doing routine check-ups, identifying any problems, anticipating challenges, sourcing for spare parts, and repairing problems... Show more	$12-24

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Highway Maintenance
   • Asphalt
   • Hand Tools
   • Loaders
   • GRASS
   • End Loaders
   • DOT
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Emergency Situations
   • Manual Labor
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Snow Removal
   • Blowers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate snow plows, haul trucks, bobcats, front end loaders, and backhoe equipment.
   • Maintain trucks, pavement making equipment, snowplows, and salt spreaders.
   • Operate all cdl equipment which include snow plow, highway striper, street sweeper and transporter.
   • Operate a single and tandem axle dump truck, backhoe, loader, roller, and chain saws.
   • Haul equipment out to job tandem dump truck with trailer operate backhoe paving roller, bobcat and loader.
   • Follow behind operating machinery, such as mowers, and weed whack what the mowers are unable to mow.

   More highway maintenance worker duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the highway maintenance worker job description is a good way to get more applicants. A highway maintenance worker salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a highway maintenance worker in Hawaii may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level highway maintenance worker. Additionally, a highway maintenance worker with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average highway maintenance worker salary

   $40,488yearly

   $19.47 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level highway maintenance worker salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 16, 2026

   Average highway maintenance worker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$52,249	$25
   2	Massachusetts	$50,873	$24
   3	Minnesota	$50,415	$24
   4	Wisconsin	$47,251	$23
   5	New York	$45,048	$22
   6	Colorado	$42,646	$21
   7	Ohio	$42,535	$20
   8	Georgia	$39,100	$19
   9	Indiana	$36,193	$17
   10	Nebraska	$36,102	$17
   11	South Dakota	$36,069	$17
   12	Texas	$34,118	$16
   13	South Carolina	$30,546	$15

   Average highway maintenance worker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Washington State University	$50,190	$24.13
   2	FJM	$46,147	$22.19
   3	Diamond Surface	$44,007	$21.16
   4	Milwaukee County	$43,853	$21.08
   5	Colorado State Express	$43,566	$20.95
   6	Minnesota Limited	$43,462	$20.90	3
   7	New York State Restaurant Association	$43,344	$20.84
   8	WEST TREE SERVICE	$43,323	$20.83
   9	Reno, NV	$42,845	$20.60
   10	Minnesota State Fair	$42,498	$20.43	61
   11	Brown County	$42,166	$20.27
   12	Scott County, Iowa	$42,019	$20.20	3
   13	Culpepper Construction	$41,641	$20.02
   14	Double A	$40,437	$19.44
   15	Anoka County	$40,196	$19.32
   16	State of Nevada Employees' Association Inc	$40,078	$19.27
   17	Wright County	$39,335	$18.91	2
   18	Stearns County MN	$38,203	$18.37
   19	State Of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission	$37,655	$18.10	19
   20	Outagamie County	$37,589	$18.07

4. Writing a highway maintenance worker job description

   A highway maintenance worker job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a highway maintenance worker job description:

   Highway maintenance worker job description example

   The eligible register developed from this posting may be used to fill future FT and PT vacancies within this classification.
   
   Performs skilled labor to maintain traffic signal systems. Includes operating heavy motorized equipment to access overhead signals and while performing snow removal activities. Work includes weekends, nights, and holidays as required to address signal issues and respond to winter snow events. Essential Duties
   
   Operates equipment such as, but not limited to, single axle and tandem trucks, overhead personnel lift vehicles, hand and power tools, and electrical and electronic testing equipment.
   
   Reviews construction plans and specifications to assist with design of new and revised signal and lighting systems; makes recommendations based on findings.
   
   Performs construction inspection functions of traffic signal projects, including monitoring and inspecting the progress and construction methods to ensure traffic signal projects meet specifications and are in compliance with construction procedures.
   Communicates and resolves field problems with required/affected parties.
   
   Maintains and keeps traffic control signals and flasher systems operable, performing preventative maintenance and replacing and cleaning signal components.
   
   Maintains and keeps county-owned street lights operational.
   
   Works in or near traffic and at heights up to 40 feet to perform signal and lighting maintenance.
   
   Orders county furnished material through procurement process.
   
   Maintains a detailed service record of repairs and/or maintenance performed on individual signals or signal systems.
   
   Creates billing summaries and part repair orders needed for the cities per cooperative maintenance agreements.
   
   Serves on-call for traffic signal related emergency needs during non-working hours as needed by the department.
   
   Performs underground utility locating of county owned utilities. Updates Gopher State One Call information to account for newly installed county underground utilities.
   
   Assists in designing, manufacturing, installing, and repairing roadway signs. Performs sign installation and replacement work with the Highway Maintenance Worker responsible for signing upon request.
   
   Uses computer applications to prepare and print sign messages, enter daily work into the Cartegraph application, and prepare and manage Excel spreadsheets to maintain lighting and signing databases.
   
   Plows and wings snow and applies ice control materials including, assessing road and weather conditions to determine appropriate application rates at the direction of Highway Maintenance Supervisor.
   
   Reports any equipment malfunction and makes proper equipment checks before each day's operation. Follows appropriate equipment reviews prior to use and fills out required paperwork, including operations records. Performs minor equipment repairs, assists mechanics when asked.
   
   Sets up and maintains temporary traffic control devices in work zones. May assist in the installation of permanent traffic control devices.
   
   Provides technical guidance on specialized maintenance activities and assists in training of other employees.
   
   Answers questions from the general public in a prompt and courteous manner.
   
   Interprets and utilizes highway plan sets and right of way plats to complete projects.
   
   Attends training to maintain job specific skills.
   
   Works the hours and/or shifts assigned and begins and ends work on time.
   
   Performs other related duties as required or assigned.
   
   Minimum Qualifications
   
   Requires equivalency of high school diploma and four years of experience working on electrical systems. Two additional years of experience in the workforce may substitute for high school diploma/GED. Must possess a valid Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with airbrake endorsement. Must obtain Class A CDL and tanker endorsement within one year of hire. Preference given for experience with traffic signal maintenance, snow and ice control, operating tandem-axel trucks w/plows, and for MnDOT technical certifications. A pre-employment DOT drug test (in accordance with Part 382) is required.
   
   Selection Process
   
   Selection for this position will be based on a minimum qualifications screening and rating of training and experience. Top candidates will be forwarded to the hiring manager or supervisor for consideration for interview and/or additional assessments. Final selection will include a background check and approval by the County Board.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right highway maintenance worker for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with highway maintenance workers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit highway maintenance workers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   To find highway maintenance worker candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as constructionjobs.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit highway maintenance workers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new highway maintenance worker

   Once you've selected the best highway maintenance worker candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new highway maintenance worker. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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