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Transportation maintenance operator vs highway maintenance technician

The differences between transportation maintenance operators and highway maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a transportation maintenance operator and a highway maintenance technician. Additionally, a highway maintenance technician has an average salary of $36,871, which is higher than the $33,448 average annual salary of a transportation maintenance operator.

The top three skills for a transportation maintenance operator include safety regulations, CDL and DOT. The most important skills for a highway maintenance technician are CDL, highway maintenance, and asphalt.

Transportation maintenance operator vs highway maintenance technician overview

Transportation Maintenance OperatorHighway Maintenance Technician
Yearly salary$33,448$36,871
Hourly rate$16.08$17.73
Growth rate5%-
Number of jobs89,66283,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%High School Diploma, 45%
Average age4747
Years of experience1212

Transportation maintenance operator vs highway maintenance technician salary

Transportation maintenance operators and highway maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Transportation Maintenance OperatorHighway Maintenance Technician
Average salary$33,448$36,871
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $48,000Between $25,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City-Denver, CO
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-International Paper
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between transportation maintenance operator and highway maintenance technician education

There are a few differences between a transportation maintenance operator and a highway maintenance technician in terms of educational background:

Transportation Maintenance OperatorHighway Maintenance Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%High School Diploma, 45%
Most common majorBusinessGeneral Studies
Most common college--

Transportation maintenance operator vs highway maintenance technician demographics

Here are the differences between transportation maintenance operators' and highway maintenance technicians' demographics:

Transportation Maintenance OperatorHighway Maintenance Technician
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 71.6% Female, 28.4%Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 0.5% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 0.5% White, 73.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between transportation maintenance operator and highway maintenance technician duties and responsibilities

Transportation maintenance operator example responsibilities.

  • Manage receipt, storage and issue of ammunition processes.
  • Operate wheel loaders, bulldozers, and farm grade tractors with different implements, also construct grain bins.
  • Train incoming soldiers to operate all wheel vehicles and equipment over vary terrain and roadways in support of combat operations.
  • Apply CPR procedures if need.
  • Operate Opex slitting/sorting & postage machines.
  • Have attended classes for the GPS unit.
  • Show more

Highway maintenance technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage proper storage of equipment, compliance with ANSI, NEC standard and assure OSHA safety regulations.
  • Mow or clear brush from a long road or plow snow from roadway
  • Repair cross/storm drains, cracks, pothole, and perform cold asphalt patch repair and pressure washing as needed.
  • Dump, spread, and tamp asphalt, using one pneumatic tampers, to repair joints and patch broken pavement.
  • Perform routine and emergency maintenance calls, paint, repair drywall safely repair minor electrical problems including HVAC.
  • Operate trucks equip with snowplows and sander attachments to maintain roads in winter weather.

Transportation maintenance operator vs highway maintenance technician skills

Common transportation maintenance operator skills
  • Safety Regulations, 25%
  • CDL, 13%
  • DOT, 8%
  • Maintenance Checks, 6%
  • Emergency Equipment, 3%
  • Safety Procedures, 3%
Common highway maintenance technician skills
  • CDL, 27%
  • Highway Maintenance, 19%
  • Asphalt, 9%
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • Equipment Maintenance, 6%
  • CPR, 6%

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