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The average salary for a highway maintenance worker stands at $40,488 per year, or roughly $19 per hour. This figure can vary based on several factors including geographic location and experience level. For instance, workers in states like California and New York tend to earn higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for skilled labor.
Entry-level positions typically start at a lower salary, around $30,000, while experienced workers can earn upwards of $50,000 annually. Understanding these salary dynamics is crucial for prospective employees.
Highway maintenance workers are essential for ensuring the safety of our roadways. They perform various tasks, including road repairs, snow removal, and traffic management. Seeking positions through job boards like Zippia can connect candidates with opportunities that match their skills and salary expectations.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level highway maintenance worker | $40,000 | $19.25 |
| Mid-level highway maintenance worker | $43,000 | $20.69 |
| Senior-level highway maintenance worker | $54,600 | $26.23 |
The average highway maintenance worker salary in New Jersey, Maine, and Illinois are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average highway maintenance worker salary states are Hawaii, South Carolina, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $50,148 | $24.11 |
| 2 | Washington | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| 3 | Idaho | $51,182 | $24.61 |
| 4 | Maine | $56,524 | $27.18 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $50,539 | $24.30 |
| 6 | Illinois | $52,874 | $25.42 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $58,059 | $27.91 |
| 8 | Kansas | $50,758 | $24.40 |
| 9 | California | $48,910 | $23.51 |
| 10 | Alaska | $51,271 | $24.65 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $50,199 | $24.13 |
| 12 | Utah | $45,312 | $21.78 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $46,740 | $22.47 |
| 14 | Iowa | $52,009 | $25.00 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $47,509 | $22.84 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $50,813 | $24.43 |
| 17 | Vermont | $49,277 | $23.69 |
| 18 | Ohio | $43,482 | $20.90 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $38,869 | $18.69 |
| 20 | Florida | $40,206 | $19.33 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $42,072 | $20.23 |
| 22 | Georgia | $39,071 | $18.78 |
| 23 | Delaware | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $38,701 | $18.61 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $43,432 | $20.88 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $43,212 | $20.77 |
| 27 | Nevada | $39,738 | $19.10 |
| 28 | New York | $44,561 | $21.42 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $43,264 | $20.80 |
| 30 | Colorado | $42,659 | $20.51 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $35,959 | $17.29 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $35,953 | $17.29 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $36,458 | $17.53 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| 35 | Missouri | $35,938 | $17.28 |
| 36 | Virginia | $37,504 | $18.03 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $40,045 | $19.25 |
| 38 | Texas | $33,983 | $16.34 |
| 39 | Oregon | $33,410 | $16.06 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $35,813 | $17.22 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $33,845 | $16.27 |
| 42 | Maryland | $38,716 | $18.61 |
| 43 | Alabama | $32,330 | $15.54 |
| 44 | Indiana | $35,682 | $17.15 |
| 45 | Arizona | $33,773 | $16.24 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $30,996 | $14.90 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $30,483 | $14.66 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $28,013 | $13.47 |
| 49 | Montana | $30,412 | $14.62 |
| 50 | Michigan | $28,241 | $13.58 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,464 | $12.72 |
The highest-paying cities for highway maintenance workers are Olympia, WA, Worcester, MA, and Saint Cloud, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympia, WA | $52,249 | $25.12 |
| 2 | Worcester, MA | $50,873 | $24.46 |
| 3 | Saint Cloud, MN | $50,415 | $24.24 |
| 4 | Appleton, WI | $47,251 | $22.72 |
| 5 | Schenectady, NY | $45,048 | $21.66 |
| 6 | Aurora, CO | $42,646 | $20.50 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $42,535 | $20.45 |
| 8 | Macon, GA | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| 9 | Elkhart, IN | $36,193 | $17.40 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $36,102 | $17.36 |
| 11 | Sioux Falls, SD | $36,069 | $17.34 |
| 12 | Odessa, TX | $34,118 | $16.40 |
| 13 | Charleston, SC | $30,546 | $14.69 |
A highway maintenance worker's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $54,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| Average | $40,488 | $3,374 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
The highest paying types of highway maintenance workers are highway maintainer, road repairer, and caltrans equipment operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Worker | $36,132 | $3,011 | $17.37 | 115,130 |
Top companies hiring highway maintenance workers now:
Highway maintenance worker salaries at Washington State University and FJM are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average highway maintenance worker salary at companies like Diamond Surface and Milwaukee County are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 11 | Brown County | $42,166 | $20.27 |
| 12 | Scott County, Iowa | $42,019 | $20.20 |
| 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 |
| 18 | Stearns County MN | $38,203 | $18.37 |
| 19 | State Of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission | $37,655 | $18.10 |
| 20 | Outagamie County | $37,589 | $18.07 |
The average highway maintenance worker salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $46,511 | $22.36 |
| 2 | Agriculture | $43,649 | $20.99 |
| 3 | Professional | $37,962 | $18.25 |
| 4 | Government | $36,313 | $17.46 |
| 5 | Insurance | $33,691 | $16.20 |
The average highway maintenance worker salary has risen by $6,259 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average highway maintenance worker earned $34,229 annually, but today, they earn $40,488 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for highway maintenance workers over the last decade.
Compare highway maintenance worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare highway maintenance worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $40,500 | $19.47 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | $39,600 | $19.03 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $38,600 | $18.54 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $37,600 | $18.08 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $37,100 | $17.82 | +3.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Keene, Nh | Highway Maintenance Worker | Keene, NH | 06/28/2025 | $33,580 |
| State of Washington | Highway Maintenance Worker 2 | Pavement Marking | Ione, WA | 06/27/2025 | $65,839 |
| Dasstateoh | Highway Maintenance Worker 1-Seasonal-Cuyahoga County-Multiple PNS | Cleveland, OH | 06/27/2025 | $43,514 |
| State of Indiana | Highway Seasonal Maintenance Worker | Albany, IN | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| State of Ohio | Highway Maintenance Worker 1 (HMW 1) or Highway Technician 1 (HT 1), Bridge Department, PN 20051609 | Bowling Green, OH | 06/26/2025 | $45,163 |
| State of New York | Highway Maintenance Worker 2 (Region 5 Chautauqua CO) | Sherman, NY | 06/26/2025 | $45,081 |
| Milwaukee County (Wi | Highway Maintenance Worker II | Milwaukee, WI | 06/26/2025 | $49,420 |
| State of Wisconsin | Highway Maintenance Worker-Summer Help | Jefferson, WI | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Neheadstart | Temporary Highway Maintenance Worker-Omaha and Surrounding Areas | Omaha, NE | 06/24/2025 | $40,697 |
| Douglas County | Highway Department-Maintenance Worker/Snowplow Driver | Douglas, WI | 06/21/2025 | $47,375 |
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