Highway Maintenance Workers

What do they do?

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.

What kind of training is available in North Dakota?

The there are no official post-secondary training opportunities for this occupation from the public North Dakota University System.

Job Openings in North Dakota by Year

What does the North Dakota market look like for this occupation?

$50,810.00
Median Salary (2022)
Higher than 45% of ND Occupations
$24.43
Median Hourly (2022)
Higher than 47% of ND Occupations
1.25%
Short Term Yearly Change (2025)
Higher than 55% of ND Occupations
0.86%
Long Term Yearly Change (2032)
Higher than 64% of ND Occupations

What are some of the daily tasks?

  • Apply oil to road surfaces, using sprayers.
  • Apply poisons along roadsides and in animal burrows to eliminate unwanted roadside vegetation and rodents.
  • Blend compounds to form adhesive mixtures used for marker installation.
  • Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures.
  • 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.
  • Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites.
  • Dump, spread, and tamp asphalt, using pneumatic tampers, to repair joints and patch broken pavement.
  • Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
  • Haul and spread sand, gravel, and clay to fill washouts and repair road shoulders.
  • Inspect markers to verify accurate installation.
  • Inspect, clean, and repair drainage systems, bridges, tunnels, and other structures.
  • Measure and mark locations for installation of markers, using tape, string, or chalk.
  • Paint traffic control lines and place pavement traffic messages, by hand or using machines.
  • Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment.
  • Perform roadside landscaping work, such as clearing weeds and brush, and planting and trimming trees.
  • Place and remove snow fences used to prevent the accumulation of drifting snow on highways.
  • Remove litter and debris from roadways, including debris from rock and mud slides.
  • Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.

What work experience does someone ususally need?

None

What is the typical on-the-job training?

Moderate-term on-the-job training

What is the entry level education?

High school diploma or equivalent