Job Duties

Working Conditions/Requirements

Education & Preparation

Job Openings & Entry Method

Earnings & Advancement

Employment & Outlook

Sources of Additional Information

Highway Maintenance Workers repair and maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways & right-of-way to keep them in safe condition.

Job Duties 

Highway Maintenance Workers may:

Dump, spread, and compact asphalt to repair potholes and patch broken pavement

Erect and repair guardrails, highway markers, and snow fences, using hand tools and power tools

Drive machines that sweep debris from paved surfaces, mow grass and weeds, and remove snow and ice

Clean and repair drainage systems

Inspect and repair bridges, tunnels, and other structures

Operate machines that paint center lanes, edge lines, and pedestrian crossing lines

Repair and replace highway and traffic signs and lighting as well as warning signals

Blend compounds to form adhesive mixture

Remove litter and debris from roadways, including debris from rock and mud slides

Clear brush, plant trees, and landscape along highways

Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead

Click here to watch Highway Maintenance Workers at work!

The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

899.684-014 HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE WORKERS maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way to keep them in safe condition. Highway Maintenance Workers employed by large metropolitan governments may specialize and be designated according to their job duties, such as heavy truck or tractor drivers who may sweep streets, mow grass and weeds, and remove snow. Other workers may maintain structures such as bridges and tunnels; or mud-jack unevenly settled sections of concrete pavement by drilling holes and pumping liquid asphalt or cement under the pavement to raise it to the appropriate level.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Highway Maintenance Workers generally work as members of a crew. They are usually supervised by a crew leader. They usually work outdoors on roads, highways, airport runways, bridges, tunnels, and roadside park areas. Workers employed by the federal government maintain roads in national parks and forests, historic sites, and military bases.

Workers experience all kinds of weather conditions and temperature extremes. Workers find that noise, dust and dirt, and the heat and odor from asphalt are part of their workday. Workers near noisy construction equipment and other machines might have to use earplugs. Workers must follow strict safety rules while using heavy construction equipment and dangerous tools. Operators of construction equipment must wear protective hard hats and steel-toed shoes. These workers must be cautious of motorists who ignore traffic warning signs.

Highway Maintenance Workers usually work a 5-day, 40-hour week. They might be required to work overtime on some projects. Workers might have to commute long distances to and from work sites. Workers usually provide their own safety shoes.

Highway maintenance workers need to be in good health and have physical stamina. They work outdoors in snow, sleet, rain, and summer heat. Heavy snowfall and rain often require them to work at night to clear roads for morning commuters.

Many Highway Maintenance Workers belong to the International Union of Operating Engineers . Workers who belong, must pay periodic dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities of a routine, definite, organized nature

• Activities which involve the use of processes, machines, techniques

You Should Be Able To:

• Perform the same work continuously

• Work within precise limits or standards of accuracy

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

Factor xý-4 completely.

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

A boundary monument is a pile of stones or other material object that is placed on or near a boundary line, to preserve and identify the location of the line on the ground.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to prepare a report containing a completed maintenance schedule to be a submitted to a supervisor.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be detailed oriented and demonstrate organizational skills to insure safety and proper completion of a project.

Workers must be in good physical health. Those who operate light or heavy construction equipment must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the Career Exploration Script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0500 BUILDING TRADES , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 2200 MATH , 3300 TECHNOLOGY , 3400 WOODS

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

There are no Postsecondary Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

  Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration Script.

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

E-Learning Courses and Programs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Local governments often employ youths during the summer to take care of debris and landscaping of highway roadsides and parks.

                School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Highway Maintenance Worker employer

internships

volunteer work with a Highway Maintenance Worker employer

community service work with an agency

Applying to local, county, state, and federal civil service offices and taking and passing an examination, is the usual method of entry in this occupation. Applicants who want to work for private construction contractors should apply directly to these employers. Assistance in locating a job may be available from newspaper want ads, school placement offices, or a local office of Michigan Works!.  In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

American Road & Transportation Builders Association

International Union of Operating Engineers

Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association

Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan

Building Industry Exchange

Asphalt Jobs

Associated Builders and Contractors

ConstructionGigs.com

Construction Jobs

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal

Michigan Talent Bank

Yahoo! Careers

MONSTER.COM

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Highway Maintenance Workers vary according to the employer; the individual's qualifications, experience, position, and level of responsibility; and the geographic location.

Nationally, the median weekly earnings (2008) of construction laborers, including Highway Maintenance Workers, were $659 or $16.48 per hour. In early 2009, the average hourly rate for non-supervisory workers employed in the highway and street construction industry was $22.13. The median hourly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $18.05 in 2008.

Highway Maintenance Workers employed by the Federal government had hourly rates of $8.43 to $15.10 in 2009. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.

Basic hourly wages rates, including fringe benefits, (mid 2009) for Highway Maintenance Workers employed by various Michigan counties were:

Basic union hourly rates, including fringe benefits, (early 2009) for Highway Maintenance Workers employed by private construction contractors in Michigan were:

Laborers working for the State of Michigan received hourly pay ranging from $14.70 to $19.47 in early 2009.

Depending on the employer, fringe benefits for Highway Maintenance Workers may include paid vacations, life and medical insurance, sick leave, holidays, and a pension plan. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.

Beginners are often hired as temporary workers or helpers and receive on-the-job training. Advancement to higher level positions depends on such factors as experience, education, and the ability to supervise, as well as the passing of competitive civil service examinations if employed by a government agency. High school graduates who complete a 2-year construction technology program may become technicians in the asphalt/hot-mix industry.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, there were about 145,200 Highway Maintenance Workers employed in 2006. Employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016. The industry distribution for Highway Maintenance Workers looked like this:

To find employers, click Employer/Business Locator.

There are about 4,225 Highway Maintenance Workers employed in Michigan. Nearly all were employed in Michigan government agencies for town, city, county, and state highway maintenance and construction. The rest worked for the Federal government and private construction contractors.

Employment of Highway Maintenance Workers in Michigan is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016. An average of 100 annual openings is expected, with 20 due to growth and 80 due to replacement of workers who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Some additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.

With the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, many new jobs will be created in the construction industry. Michigan Department of Transportation will allocate funds from this federal program for improvements to roads, bridges, and to upgrade existing infrastructure providing employment for many.

MICHIGAN 'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2016

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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