Highway Maintenance Workers
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-SOC code
47-4051.00 - Preparation Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$50,260
Employment, U.S.154,960
Median hourly wage$24.16
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,230 | $43,500 | $50,260 | $61,040 | $71,970 |
By state (49)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2,730 | $37,430 | 1.30 |
| Alaska | 50 | $54,090 | 0.15 |
| Arizona | 1,410 | $50,850 | 0.44 |
| Arkansas | 860 | $35,740 | 0.66 |
| California | 8,150 | $59,580 | 0.45 |
| Colorado | 1,990 | $52,350 | 0.70 |
| Connecticut | 2,130 | $64,870 | 1.26 |
| Delaware | 90 | $45,450 | 0.19 |
| Florida | 2,530 | $42,210 | 0.26 |
| Georgia | 1,980 | $37,560 | 0.41 |
| Idaho | 1,340 | $52,050 | 1.57 |
| Illinois | 10,790 | $61,700 | 1.78 |
| Indiana | 4,380 | $48,480 | 1.37 |
| Iowa | 4,000 | $58,490 | 2.58 |
| Kansas | 1,960 | $46,050 | 1.37 |
| Kentucky | 3,030 | $40,400 | 1.52 |
| Louisiana | 1,050 | $44,790 | 0.54 |
| Maine | 1,620 | $49,030 | 2.55 |
| Maryland | 620 | $49,030 | 0.23 |
| Massachusetts | 2,000 | $61,500 | 0.55 |
| Michigan | 5,230 | $53,750 | 1.19 |
| Minnesota | 4,610 | $63,150 | 1.57 |
| Mississippi | 4,160 | $35,120 | 3.59 |
| Missouri | 5,470 | $47,470 | 1.87 |
| Montana | 1,140 | $60,960 | 2.24 |
| Nebraska | 2,580 | $48,650 | 2.53 |
| Nevada | 990 | $49,320 | 0.64 |
| New Hampshire | 1,230 | $51,050 | 1.81 |
| New Jersey | 4,850 | $51,720 | 1.13 |
| New Mexico | 1,470 | $47,740 | 1.69 |
| New York | 13,820 | $55,210 | 1.43 |
| North Carolina | 3,750 | $47,880 | 0.76 |
| North Dakota | 1,240 | $60,630 | 2.91 |
| Ohio | 6,070 | $48,880 | 1.10 |
| Oklahoma | 3,180 | $38,840 | 1.87 |
| Oregon | 1,650 | $65,330 | 0.84 |
| Pennsylvania | 11,140 | $47,690 | 1.84 |
| Rhode Island | 620 | $57,950 | 1.23 |
| South Carolina | 2,290 | $48,130 | 1.00 |
| South Dakota | 1,800 | $48,610 | 3.95 |
| Tennessee | 2,280 | $46,070 | 0.70 |
| Texas | 6,630 | $45,540 | 0.47 |
| Utah | 1,240 | $55,970 | 0.72 |
| Vermont | 1,170 | $58,460 | 3.87 |
| Virginia | 3,400 | $50,800 | 0.83 |
| Washington | 2,590 | $65,300 | 0.73 |
| West Virginia | 730 | $45,260 | 1.04 |
| Wisconsin | 6,000 | $58,000 | 2.05 |
| Wyoming | 820 | $48,190 | 2.92 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 1-2 | 0.970 |
| 2 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 1-2 | 0.961 |
| 3 | Helpers--Extraction Workers | 1-2 | 0.960 |
| 4 | Riggers | 1-2 | 0.956 |
| 5 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 1-2 | 0.955 |
| 6 | Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers | 1-2 | 0.954 |
| 7 | Firefighters | 1-2 | 0.950 |
| 8 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 1-2 | 0.950 |
| 9 | Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | 1-2 | 0.950 |
| 10 | Pipelayers | 1-2 | 0.949 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Highway Maintenance Workers, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | Repairing | 0.87 | 0.970 |
| Tree Trimmers and Pruners | Instructing | 0.88 | 0.947 |
| Motorboat Operators | Operation and Control | 0.88 | 0.946 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | Equipment Maintenance | 0.87 | 0.944 |
| Pile Driver Operators | Equipment Maintenance | 0.87 | 0.942 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | Operations Monitoring | 0.88 | 0.938 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Highway Maintenance Workers, excluding software Highway Maintenance Workers already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Global positioning system GPS software | 4 of 20 | 5.4x |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | 3 of 20 | 0.8x |
| SAP software | 5 of 20 | 0.8x |
| Email software | 4 of 20 | 0.7x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 3.12 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 3.50 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.50 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.12 | 2.75 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.50 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.38 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.50 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.38 | not rated |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Public Safety and Security | 4.23 | 4.44 |
| English Language | 3.51 | 3.50 |
| Transportation | 3.26 | 3.34 |
| Building and Construction | 3.21 | 3.50 |
| Education and Training | 3.03 | 2.77 |
| Administration and Management | 3.00 | 2.30 |
| Mechanical | 2.99 | 4.19 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.95 | 4.41 |
| Engineering and Technology | 2.87 | 3.66 |
| Mathematics | 2.80 | 2.70 |
| Production and Processing | 2.62 | 3.17 |
| Design | 2.58 | 2.52 |
| Geography | 2.53 | 1.88 |
| Law and Government | 2.35 | 2.17 |
| Communications and Media | 2.31 | 2.55 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.29 | 1.70 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.27 | 3.03 |
| Telecommunications | 2.27 | 1.86 |
| Chemistry | 2.20 | 2.67 |
| Psychology | 2.18 | 2.90 |
| Administrative | 2.13 | 2.26 |
| Physics | 2.08 | 2.11 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.01 | 1.44 |
| Biology | 1.97 | 1.90 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.84 | not rated |
| Foreign Language | 1.64 | 1.11 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.62 | 0.88 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.58 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.53 | 0.89 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.51 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.34 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.33 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.32 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Control Precision | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Static Strength | 3.38 | 3.62 |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Auditory Attention | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Near Vision | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Trunk Strength | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Far Vision | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Reaction Time | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Response Orientation | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Stamina | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Visualization | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Oral Expression | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Selective Attention | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Information Ordering | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Time Sharing | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Depth Perception | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Rate Control | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.88 | 2.50 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Spatial Orientation | 2.75 | 2.50 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.75 | 2.38 |
| Written Comprehension | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Written Expression | 2.50 | 2.38 |
| Glare Sensitivity | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.25 | 1.88 |
| Sound Localization | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Number Facility | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Originality | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Peripheral Vision | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Memorization | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Night Vision | 1.88 | 1.75 |
| Explosive Strength | 1.62 | 1.12 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel hot
- Microsoft Office software hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft PowerPoint hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- Database software
- Web browser software
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | 300 | 7.67 | $48,990 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 290 | 5.76 | $50,310 |
| Aguadilla, PR | 270 | 5.60 | $21,840 |
| Kingston, NY | 290 | 4.94 | $60,460 |
| Johnstown, PA | 220 | 4.55 | $43,580 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 270 | 4.41 | $37,020 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 510 | 4.32 | $49,850 |
| Mayaguez, PR | 210 | 4.02 | $21,840 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 160 | 3.96 | $48,780 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 130 | 3.57 | $44,350 |