At a Glance
Quick Answer
Highway Maintenance Workers earn a median $22.63/hr ($47,070/yr). Top-paying state: Washington at $32.88/hr. True labor cost with burden: ~$30.55/hr.
Maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way. Duties include patching broken or eroded pavement and repairing guard rails, highway markers, and snow fences.
Overview
Wage Summary
Distribution
Wage Distribution
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024. Percentiles represent the wage below which a given percentage of workers fall.
Geography
Top-Paying Regions
Top-Paying States
| # | State | Median Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $32.88 |
| 2 | California | $31.55 |
| 3 | Alaska | $30.22 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $29.88 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $29.22 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
| # | Metro Area | Median Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $36.55 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $35.22 |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $34.88 |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $33.55 |
| 5 | Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $32.22 |
Cost Analysis
True Labor Cost
~$30.55/hr fully loaded
The base wage of $22.63/hr becomes approximately $30.55/hr after applying a 1.35x burden rate (payroll taxes, insurance, benefits, overhead).
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FAQ
Questions Contractors Ask
What is the average salary for highway maintenance workers?
The national median salary for highway maintenance workers is $47,070 per year ($22.63/hour). The mean hourly wage is $23.88. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $14.88/hr while top earners (90th percentile) make $34.67/hr.
What states pay highway maintenance workers the most?
The top-paying states for highway maintenance workers are Washington ($32.88/hr), California ($31.55/hr), Alaska ($30.22/hr), New Jersey ($29.88/hr), Connecticut ($29.22/hr). These higher wages typically reflect strong union presence, high cost of living, and prevailing wage laws.
What is the true cost of hiring highway maintenance workers?
The true cost is typically 1.35x the base wage after adding payroll taxes (7.65% FICA), workers compensation insurance (varies by trade), general liability, health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off. For highway maintenance workers earning $22.63/hr, the fully loaded rate would be approximately $30.55/hr.
How many highway maintenance workers are employed in the US?
According to BLS data, there are approximately 154,200 highway maintenance workers employed in the United States.