Highway Maintenance Workers
SOC Code: 47-4051 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Highway Maintenance Workers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,368 | $70,782 | $85,197 | $99,611 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,112 | $58,531 | $69,950 | $81,370 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $45,718 | $57,262 | $68,806 | $80,350 |
| Napa, CA | $52,978 | $61,194 | $69,430 | $77,646 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,491 | $55,120 | $65,749 | $76,378 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $62,774 | $67,205 | $71,656 | $76,086 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $53,539 | $61,027 | $68,536 | $76,024 |
| Bloomington, IL | $38,126 | $50,690 | $63,232 | $75,795 |
| Vallejo, CA | $53,643 | $60,590 | $67,538 | $74,485 |
| Springfield, IL | $41,538 | $52,458 | $63,378 | $74,298 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.6 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.5 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Coordination | 3.1 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Public Safety and Security | 4.2 |
| English Language | 3.5 |
| Transportation | 3.3 |
| Building and Construction | 3.2 |
| Education and Training | 3.0 |
| Administration and Management | 3.0 |
| Mechanical | 3.0 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.0 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 88.3% |
| Less than high school | 5.2% |
| Associate's degree | 5.1% |
| Some college | 1.4% |
Typical Tasks
- Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
- Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.
- Dump, spread, and tamp asphalt, using pneumatic tampers, to repair joints and patch broken pavement.
- Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites.
- Inspect, clean, and repair drainage systems, bridges, tunnels, and other structures.
- Haul and spread sand, gravel, and clay to fill washouts and repair road shoulders.
- Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools.
- Remove litter and debris from roadways, including debris from rock and mud slides.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Database software Spreadsheet software Web browser software Word processing software
Calculate your wage level for Highway Maintenance Workers →
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