Job title · SOC 47-4051

Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)

Also known as: highway maintenance worker, dot maintenance worker

Overview

Sourced

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. May also mow or clear brush from along road, or plow snow from roadway.

O*NET definition of Highway Maintenance Workers (SOC 47-4051) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.

148,700

in government (SOC 47-4051)

96%

of this occupation works for government

$50,450

median pay in government

State · Local

levels of government

Occupation figures cover every job classified under SOC 47-4051, including Public Works / Street Maintenance Worker.

Titles employers use

Equipment Operator (EO)Highway MaintainerHighway Maintenance WorkerTransportation Maintenance Specialist (TMS)Highway Maintenance Crew WorkerHighway Maintenance TechnicianMaintenance TechnicianMaintenance WorkerTransportation Maintenance OperatorTransportation Worker

How people usually get in Editorial

CDL + application. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Requirements

Sourced

Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 47-4051)

Education needed to enter: High school diploma or equivalent
Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Education workers say the job requires

Less than a High School Diploma

High School Diploma or the equivalent

88%

Post-Secondary Certificate

Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree

Share of surveyed workers in Highway Maintenance Workers (SOC 47-4051) naming each level as required to be hired, 20 respondents, O*NET survey July 2017. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Academy and training

Sourced

Training to become competent (BLS)

SOC 47-4051: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Preparation level (O*NET)

Job zone: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Civil-service class series: civil-service class series I → II → III → senior → supervisor → manager, each with a salary range. Typical structure for a civil-service class series; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

Trainee / Assistant
Level I
Level II (journey)
Level III / Senior
Lead / Principal
Supervisor
Manager
Director / Division Chief

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

Pay

Sourced

Federal

$60,610

State

$53,100

Local

$49,500

All government

$50,450

Private sector

$46,340

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer type	Workers	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Federal	30	$57,840	$57,840	$60,610	$67,450	$77,560
State	38,370	$41,260	$47,010	$53,100	$61,970	$71,590
Local	110,300	$35,290	$41,120	$49,500	$60,730	$71,620
All government	148,700	$36,360	$43,890	$50,450	$60,980	$71,590
Private sector	6,250	$35,390	$38,050	$46,340	$62,520	$84,340

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

State government pay plans

Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT) in 22 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.

State	Job classes in the state plan	Annual range
Alabama	Hwy Maint Tech II/III(T) 1 class · effective September 1, 2026 · Alabama State Personnel Department	$27,698 – $49,987
California	Caltrans Highway Maintenance Worker 1 class · effective September 14, 2026 · California Department of Human Resources (CalHR)	$49,224 – $58,380
Colorado	Transportation Maintenance I–III 3 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, Division of Human Resources (DHR)	$53,940 – $87,408
Florida	Highway Maintenance Specialist, Highway Maintenance Technician I–II 3 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Florida Department of Management Services (DMS), State Human Resource Management	$34,760 – $96,236
Georgia	Hwy Maintenance Tech 1–3, Hwy Maintenance Tech 1 Non Exempt, Hwy Maintenance Tech 2 Non Exempt, Hwy Maintenance Tech 3 Non Exempt 6 classes · effective July 10, 2024 · Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation	$28,571 – $52,364
Illinois	Highway Maintainer Trainee, Highway Maintainer 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Illinois Department of Central Management Services	$49,872 – $111,672
Indiana	Highway Technician 3–1 3 classes · Indiana State Personnel Department	$39,000 – $68,614
Iowa	Highway Technician, Highway Technician Senior 2 classes · effective June 19, 2026 · Iowa Department of Administrative Services	$50,398 – $81,806
Kentucky	Highway Technician I–IV 4 classes · effective September 16, 2026 · Kentucky Personnel Cabinet	$33,119 – $69,476
Michigan	Transportation Maint Worker-E, Transportation Maint Worker-A 2 classes · effective October 1, 2025 · Michigan Civil Service Commission	$44,491 – $69,909
Nebraska	Highway Maintenance Worker, Highway Maintenance Worker/Senior 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, State Personnel Division	$42,411 – $67,313
Nevada	Hwy Maintenance Worker I–IV 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Nevada Department of Administration, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM)	$44,767 – $84,021
New Mexico	Associate Highway Maintenance Worker, Highway Maintenance Worker, Senior Highway Maintenance Worker 3 classes · effective July 4, 2026 · New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification	$38,885 – $70,575
New York	Highway Maintenance Worker 1–2 2 classes · effective April 1, 2026 · New York State Department of Civil Service	$42,209 – $57,813
Ohio	Highway Maintenance Worker 1–4, Highway Technician 1–6 9 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation	$44,678 – $79,061
Oregon	Transportation Maintenance Specialist 1–2, Transportation Maintenance Specialist Entry 3 classes · Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Chief Human Resources Office – Classification & Compensation	$47,400 – $76,812
Pennsylvania	Highway Maintenance Worker 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration	$32,724 – $51,054
South Carolina	Highway Maintenance Worker I–V 5 classes · South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources	$34,476 – $105,978
South Dakota	Highway Maintenance Worker, Lead Highway Maintenance Worker 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes	$44,533 – $73,486
Texas	Transportation Maintenance Specialist I–VII 7 classes · effective September 1, 2025 · Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO), State Classification Team	$40,918 – $93,138
Washington	Highway Maintenance Worker 1–4 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources	$51,600 – $80,496
Wyoming	Highway Maintenance Technician, Highway Maintenance Specialist 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Human Resources Division	$42,910 – $69,930

Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Sources: 22 official state pay plans, linked in each row.

Schedule

Sourced

Work schedule

Regular

18%

Irregular

72%

Seasonal

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

40 hours

99%

More than 40 hours

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, July 2017). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Day-to-day work

Sourced

Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.4.5
Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.4.4
Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment.4.3
Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites.4.3
Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools.4.2
Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures.4.2
Haul and spread sand, gravel, and clay to fill washouts and repair road shoulders.4.1
Drive heavy equipment and vehicles with adjustable attachments to sweep debris from paved surfaces, mow grass and weeds, remove snow and ice, and spread salt and sand.4.1
Inspect, clean, and repair drainage systems, bridges, tunnels, and other structures.4.0
Remove litter and debris from roadways, including debris from rock and mud slides.4.0

The 10 most important of 12 core tasks for Highway Maintenance Workers, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of July 2017.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Highway Maintenance Workers (SOC 47-4051) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

State	Workers	10th pct.	Median	90th pct.
Oregon	1,650	$50,810	$65,330	$70,320
Washington	2,590	$54,830	$65,300	$80,060
Connecticut	2,130	$57,710	$64,870	$79,490
Minnesota	4,610	$45,660	$63,150	$72,650
Illinois	10,790	$35,680	$61,700	$100,790
Massachusetts	2,000	$46,460	$61,500	$79,860
Montana	1,140	$50,650	$60,960	$65,610
North Dakota	1,240	$47,400	$60,630	$78,510
California	8,150	$44,780	$59,580	$84,520
Iowa	4,000	$47,380	$58,490	$67,980
Vermont	1,170	$47,080	$58,460	$67,910
Wisconsin	6,000	$42,970	$58,000	$66,150
Rhode Island	620	$46,480	$57,950	$63,910
Utah	1,240	$44,430	$55,970	$69,310
New York	13,820	$44,150	$55,210	$75,690
Alaska	50	$46,060	$54,090	$77,710
Michigan	5,230	$34,830	$53,750	$63,460
Colorado	1,990	$44,940	$52,350	$66,780
Idaho	1,340	$43,260	$52,050	$70,840
New Jersey	4,850	$36,810	$51,720	$80,360
New Hampshire	1,230	$41,520	$51,050	$61,410
Arizona	1,410	$38,020	$50,850	$63,910
Virginia	3,400	$41,540	$50,800	$62,850
Nevada	990	$36,070	$49,320	$74,410
Maryland	620	$38,090	$49,030	$78,830
Maine	1,620	$37,040	$49,030	$60,320
Ohio	6,070	$36,570	$48,880	$67,280
Nebraska	2,580	$42,310	$48,650	$60,060
South Dakota	1,800	$39,030	$48,610	$61,490
Indiana	4,380	$40,300	$48,480	$62,510
Wyoming	820	$42,970	$48,190	$66,410
South Carolina	2,290	$37,740	$48,130	$60,780
North Carolina	3,750	$34,980	$47,880	$58,870
New Mexico	1,470	$33,770	$47,740	$59,380
Pennsylvania	11,140	$36,830	$47,690	$66,050
Missouri	5,470	$37,970	$47,470	$61,440
Tennessee	2,280	$32,180	$46,070	$57,270
Kansas	1,960	$37,730	$46,050	$58,160
Texas	6,630	$32,410	$45,540	$58,990
Delaware	90	$35,680	$45,450	$63,050
West Virginia	730	$31,440	$45,260	$53,910
Louisiana	1,050	$27,760	$44,790	$63,010
Florida	2,530	$33,610	$42,210	$57,220
Kentucky	3,030	$30,030	$40,400	$50,750
Oklahoma	3,180	$31,220	$38,840	$48,150
Georgia	1,980	$30,600	$37,560	$48,760
Alabama	2,730	$27,620	$37,430	$52,750
Arkansas	860	$27,190	$35,740	$46,110
Mississippi	4,160	$27,700	$35,120	$45,170

49 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

03 Hiring process
Ordered steps + typical timeline: application, written test (named), physical test (named), oral board, background, polygraph, psych, medical, eligibility list
Not yet collected
05 Probation
Probation length and what ends it
Not yet collected
09 Benefits and pension
Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
Not yet collected
10 Union contracts
Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
Not yet collected
11 Transfers and lateral entry
Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
Not yet collected
14 Exam practice
Named exams → OpenExamPrep practice
Not yet collected
15 Employer directory
L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
Not yet collected

At a glance

Job familyTransit & Transportation

LevelState, Local

Pay structureCivil-service class series

Occupation code47-4051 Highway Maintenance Workers

PreparationVery Little to Some Preparation Needed

Sources and verification

Alabama State Personnel Department — Alabama Merit Semi-Monthly Compensation Plan (effective 09/01/2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Alabama state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) — California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (California state government publication, CalHR); facts republished with a link to the source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

Florida Department of Management Services (DMS), State Human Resource Management — Florida State Personnel System — Broadband Crosswalk (September 2026), Pay Grades and Broadband Pay Ranges (July 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Florida state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation — Georgia State Salary Plans (SWD and LAW) with Job Profiles — September 2026

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Georgia state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Illinois Department of Central Management Services — Illinois CMS Alphabetic Index of Position Titles (FY 2027, effective July 1, 2026, corrected edition)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Illinois state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Iowa Department of Administrative Services — Iowa FY 2027 Classification Plan and Pay Plans

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Iowa state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Kentucky Personnel Cabinet — Kentucky Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule (effective September 16, 2026) and Job Class Specifications

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Kentucky state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Michigan Civil Service Commission — Michigan Civil Service Commission Compensation Plan, Sections A (Alphabetic List of Pay Ranges) and B (Numeric List of Pay Ranges)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (State of Michigan government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, State Personnel Division — Nebraska Classification & Pay Plan (July 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Nebraska state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Nevada Department of Administration, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM) — Nevada Classified Service — Class Specifications and Compensation Schedules (Pay Policy 01 EE/ER and 06), effective July 1, 2026

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public information (Nevada state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification — New Mexico Classified Service — FY27 Salary Schedule (effective 7/4/2026) and Classification and Pay Listing (effective 7/30/2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (New Mexico state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

New York State Department of Civil Service — New York State Title and Salary Plan (Title and Salary Listing) and negotiating-unit salary schedules

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Title listing: OPEN-NY Terms of Use (data.ny.gov) — free use for any lawful purpose, no attribution or share-alike required; salary schedules and title file on cs.ny.gov: public record (New York State government publications); facts republished with a link to the source

U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA) — O*NET 31.0 Database

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · CC BY 4.0

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. GovJobsWiki has modified some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation — Ohio State Classification Plan — Pay Range Booklet and Pay Range Schedules (rates effective July 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Ohio state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Chief Human Resources Office – Classification & Compensation — Oregon Classification and Compensation: Job Profiles and Monthly Salary Rates by Representation

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Oregon state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration — Pennsylvania Commonwealth Classification and Pay Plan (job classes and pay schedules)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources — South Carolina Classified Pay Structure and State Job Classifications

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (South Carolina state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes — South Dakota Class Code Master and FY27 Pay Structures

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (South Dakota state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, Division of Human Resources (DHR) — State of Colorado Pay Plan FY 2026-27 — Pay Plan with Steps, State Troopers and Medical Pay Plan

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Colorado state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Indiana State Personnel Department — State of Indiana Job Code Listing (August 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Indiana state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Human Resources Division — State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure — 2024 Market Rates (effective July 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Wyoming state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO), State Classification Team — Texas State Classification Plan — Job Description Index and Salary Schedules A, B and C (FY 2026–27)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public information (Texas state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources — Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Washington state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

GovJobsWiki — GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240)

GovJobsWiki editorial · not a sourced fact · GovJobsWiki editorial

Page data last changed September 30, 2026. How we verify · Report an error

Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)

Overview

Titles employers use

Requirements

Education workers say the job requires

Academy and training

Promotion ladder

Pay

State government pay plans

Schedule

Day-to-day work

Related jobs

By state

Not yet collected