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Public works technician salary
Average public works technician salary
$43,372
Understanding Public Works Technician Salaries
The role of a Public Works Technician is essential for maintaining community infrastructure, and the compensation reflects the skill set required. As of October 2025, the average salary in the United States stands at $43,372 annually. However, wages can fluctuate significantly based on several factors:
- Experience Level: Entry-level technicians may start around $35,000, while those with more years in the field can earn upwards of $55,000.
- Location: States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled workers.
- Industry: Technicians working in specialized sectors, such as environmental services, might command higher pay.
Additionally, benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave can enhance overall compensation. Job seekers are encouraged to consider these aspects when evaluating potential roles. For more detailed salary estimates and job openings, visit Zippia today.
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Where can a Public Works Technician earn more?
Public works technician salaries by experience level
Public works technician salary estimates from across the web
Average public works technician salary by state
The average public works technician salary in Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average public works technician salary states are Tennessee, Indiana, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for public works technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $50,052 | $24.06 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $51,351 | $24.69 |
| 3 | Illinois | $45,497 | $21.87 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $48,834 | $23.48 |
| 5 | Utah | $43,116 | $20.73 |
| 6 | Maine | $40,815 | $19.62 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $40,852 | $19.64 |
| 8 | Nevada | $43,654 | $20.99 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $47,004 | $22.60 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $58,954 | $28.34 |
| 11 | Vermont | $42,389 | $20.38 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $47,889 | $23.02 |
| 13 | California | $49,685 | $23.89 |
| 14 | Delaware | $45,929 | $22.08 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $50,524 | $24.29 |
| 16 | New York | $45,434 | $21.84 |
| 17 | Virginia | $44,929 | $21.60 |
| 18 | Maryland | $45,616 | $21.93 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $37,547 | $18.05 |
| 20 | Washington | $43,642 | $20.98 |
| 21 | Michigan | $39,231 | $18.86 |
| 22 | Iowa | $35,602 | $17.12 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $36,165 | $17.39 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $39,817 | $19.14 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $41,699 | $20.05 |
| 26 | Florida | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $37,146 | $17.86 |
| 28 | Colorado | $36,383 | $17.49 |
| 29 | Oregon | $41,256 | $19.83 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $37,991 | $18.26 |
| 31 | Ohio | $35,222 | $16.93 |
| 32 | Arizona | $36,240 | $17.42 |
| 33 | Kansas | $35,495 | $17.06 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $35,681 | $17.15 |
| 35 | Georgia | $33,897 | $16.30 |
| 36 | Alabama | $36,197 | $17.40 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $32,179 | $15.47 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $31,373 | $15.08 |
| 39 | Indiana | $31,005 | $14.91 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $31,693 | $15.24 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $34,523 | $16.60 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $35,496 | $17.07 |
| 43 | Texas | $32,882 | $15.81 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $33,746 | $16.22 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $33,182 | $15.95 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $34,268 | $16.48 |
| 47 | Missouri | $30,997 | $14.90 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $30,165 | $14.50 |
| 49 | Montana | $33,120 | $15.92 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $30,978 | $14.89 |
| 51 | Idaho | $29,095 | $13.99 |
Highest paying cities for public works technicians
The highest-paying cities for public works technicians are Philadelphia, PA, San Mateo, CA, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $52,148 | $25.07 |
| 2 | San Mateo, CA | $51,814 | $24.91 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $45,768 | $22.00 |
| 4 | Fall River, MA | $43,411 | $20.87 |
| 5 | Medford, OR | $42,671 | $20.51 |
| 6 | Ann Arbor, MI | $39,016 | $18.76 |
| 7 | Blaine, MN | $37,240 | $17.90 |
| 8 | Hollywood, FL | $37,007 | $17.79 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $36,464 | $17.53 |
| 10 | Iowa City, IA | $35,734 | $17.18 |
| 11 | Overland Park, KS | $35,445 | $17.04 |
| 12 | Marietta, GA | $33,587 | $16.15 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | $30,206 | $14.52 |
Public works technician salary details
A public works technician's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a public works technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $43,372 | $3,614 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying public works technician jobs
The highest paying types of public works technicians are audio technician, audio visual specialist, and audio visual coordinator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Videographer | $43,620 | $3,635 | $20.97 | 1,267 |
| Video Coordinator | $39,127 | $3,261 | $18.81 | 13,613 |
| Video Production Internship | $33,585 | $2,799 | $16.15 | 105,041 |
| Stage Technician | $40,047 | $3,337 | $19.25 | 30,456 |
| Event Technician | $35,674 | $2,973 | $17.15 | 17,749 |
| Audio Visual Technician | $43,529 | $3,627 | $20.93 | 15,387 |
Top companies hiring public works technicians now:
Which companies pay public works technicians the most?
Public works technician salaries at Cenergy International Services and General Electric are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average public works technician salary at companies like City of Sunny Isles Beach and St Luke's Hospital & Health Network Inc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cenergy International Services | $72,555 | $34.88 |
| 2 | General Electric | $72,532 | $34.87 |
| 3 | City of Sunny Isles Beach | $51,556 | $24.79 |
| 4 | St Luke's Hospital & Health Network Inc | $44,638 | $21.46 |
| 5 | City of Alpharetta | $43,833 | $21.07 |
| 6 | Bryant & Stratton College | $43,277 | $20.81 |
| 7 | City of Grandview (Missouri) | $42,527 | $20.45 |
| 8 | Northwestern Medical Center | $42,063 | $20.22 |
| 9 | City of Stephenville | $42,048 | $20.22 |
| 10 | City of Winston-Salem | $41,386 | $19.90 |
| 11 | City of Iowa City | $41,207 | $19.81 |
| 12 | City of Boise | $40,953 | $19.69 |
| 13 | City of Ann Arbor | $40,936 | $19.68 |
| 14 | City of West Palm Beach | $40,863 | $19.65 |
| 15 | Coppell City Hall | $40,842 | $19.64 |
| 16 | City of Medford | $40,649 | $19.54 |
| 17 | City of Mesa | $39,919 | $19.19 |
| 18 | University of Pennsylvania | $39,847 | $19.16 |
| 19 | Atkore International | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| 20 | Kaiser Permanente | $39,164 | $18.83 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Public Works Technician salary by industry
The average public works technician salary varies across industries:
- The average public works technician salary in the government industry is $41,183, the highest of any industry.
- The average public works technician salary in the finance industry is $39,472.
- Public works technicians in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $26,183, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for public works technicians
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $41,183 | $19.80 |
| 2 | Education | $39,472 | $18.98 |
| 3 | Construction | $39,037 | $18.77 |
| 4 | Health Care | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $38,782 | $18.65 |
| 6 | Utilities | $38,577 | $18.55 |
| 7 | Non Profits | $26,183 | $12.59 |
High paying public works technician jobs
Public works technician salary trends
The average public works technician salary has risen by $6,180 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average public works technician earned $37,192 annually, but today, they earn $43,372 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for public works technicians over the last decade.
Compare public works technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average public works technician salary over time
Compare public works technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Public works technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $43,400 | $20.85 | +4.3% |
| 2025 | $41,500 | $19.95 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $40,700 | $19.55 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $40,000 | $19.23 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $39,200 | $18.86 | +0.8% |
Recently added public works technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Beaverton, or | Public Works Technician and Equipment Operator-Cctv | Beaverton, OR | 06/20/2025 | $59,125 |
| City of Orem, Ut | Public Works Technician-Storm Water | Orem, UT | 06/15/2025 | $42,035 |
| City of Deltona, Fl | Public Works Technician (Stormwater) | Deltona, FL | 06/13/2025 | $34,728 |
| Colonial Heights, City of | Public Works Technician I | Colonial Heights, VA | 06/03/2025 | $35,360 |
| Colonial Heights Chamber | Public Works Technician I | Colonial Heights, VA | 05/24/2025 | $35,360 |
| American Fork City | Public Works Technician II-Streets Division | American Fork, UT | 05/23/2025 | $46,039 |
| Colonial Heights Chamber | Public Works Technician I | Colonial Heights, VA | 04/18/2025 | $33,613 |
| City of Southlake, Tx | Public Works Technician, Wastewater | Southlake, TX | 03/20/2025 | $43,201 |
| Carbondale, City of | Public Works Seasonal Worker | Carbondale, IL | 03/15/2025 | $37,566 |
| Official Website of McCall, Idaho | Seasonal Public Works Technician | Hope, ID | 03/15/2025 | $31,305 |
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