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Highway Maintenance Workers

Also called: Equipment Operator (EO), Highway Maintainer, Highway Maintenance Worker, Transportation Maintenance Specialist (TMS)

What 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.

On the job, you would:
  • Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.
  • Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
  • Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment.
On the job, you'll need:

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Engineering and Technology

  • building and construction

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Controlled Movement

  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • hold or move items with your hands

Endurance

  • exercise for a long time without getting out of breath

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Dependability
  • Concern for Others
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Self Control

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Word processing software

  • Microsoft Word

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $44,930

Education

High school diploma/GED is usually needed.

Explore More

See other careers in the Government industry.