Highway Maintenance Workers
Construction and Extraction
Traffic is diverted with signs and cones before anyone works on the pavement; one person often flags motorists while others patch eroded spots or fix guardrails, shoulders, markers, and lighting. The same trucks that move crews also haul sand, gravel, and clay for washouts; heavy equipment with attachments sweeps debris, mows brush, plows snow, and spreads salt or sand. Culverts, catch basins, and ditches are cleared so water can drain, and vehicles and heavy equipment get regular preventive maintenance. The role fits people who like outdoor physical work beside live traffic and coordinating with a crew through the seasons, including snow and brush clearing.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$50'260
Median Wage Market Position
$50'260
What you might do
- Patch broken pavement and eroded road surfaces
- Repair guardrails, markers, and road shoulders
- Set out signs and cones to redirect traffic
- Flag drivers around obstacles and repair work
- Clear debris from culverts, ditches, and drains
- Plow snow and spread salt on the roadways
Skills that matter
- Flagging motorists around open repairs
- Repairing guardrails, markers, and shoulders
- Clearing culverts and drainage ditches
- Operating plows, mowers, and spreaders
- Coordinating the crew in live traffic
- Deciding how to treat washouts and ice
AI & the future of this role
Road patching, guardrail work, and snow clearance unfold outdoors in changing weather and traffic, where flexibility still matters. Routing and sensor alerts might improve scheduling, yet the physical maintenance itself is likely to stay human-led for some time.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details