Occupations/47-4051.00
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.
Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.
AI automation risk
37%
More resilient
Human characteristics
70%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
72%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures.
- Task
Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.
- Task
Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.
- 02Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
- 03Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment.
- 04Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites.
- 05Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools.
- 06Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.51
- Degree of automation2.29
- Time sitting2.77
- Originality (ability)2.12
- Conflict situations3.67
- Hands-on objects/tools4.49
- Outdoors / weather4.94
- Disease exposure2.05
- Decision freedom3.51
Top abilities
- Multilimb Coordination3.88
- Control Precision3.88
- Static Strength3.38
- Problem Sensitivity3.38
- Oral Comprehension3.38
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.38
- Near Vision3.25
- Manual Dexterity3.25
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension2.75
- Active Listening3.00
- Writing2.12
- Speaking3.00
- Mathematics2.12
- Science1.00
- Critical Thinking2.88
- Active Learning2.38
- Learning Strategies2.00
- Monitoring3.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
2 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public | Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation 49.0202 | $6,000 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 49.02 |
Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN · Public | Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation 49.0202 | $5,800 | 100% | 33% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 49.02 |