Highway Maintenance Worker

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Inspect completed work to ensure proper installation.
• Inspect industrial or commercial equipment to ensure proper operation.
• Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.
• Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.
• Operate road-surfacing equipment.
• Clean equipment or facilities.
• Compact materials to create level bases.
• Mix substances or compounds needed for work activities.
• Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed.
• Pour materials into or on designated areas.

Typical Working Conditions

• Working outdoors exposed to weather.
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• Having face-to-face discussions.
• Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
• Working with a group or team.
• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Exposure to hazardous equipment.
• Frequent decision-making.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Responsibility for others’ health and safety.
• Meeting strict deadlines.
• Being in situations in which conflicts arise.

Tools & Technology used by Highway Maintenance Workers

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Highway Maintenance Workers

• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Monitoring Equipment—Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Controlling Quality—Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Solving Complex Problems—Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Highway Maintenance Workers

• Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Building and Construction—Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Transportation—Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Production and Processing—Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Economics and Accounting—Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Psychology—Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Conventional—Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing  high growth compared to other careers. There will be a need for about 6,484 new Highway Maintenance Workers to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career is best for those with at least a high school degree, and a few professionals attend some college.

Visit the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence for more information about this career, as well as links to education and training programs in Minnesota.

View the local post-secondary education options from our partners: Central Lakes College & MSTATE.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Accounting
• Algebra I and II
• Blueprint Reading
• Business Computer Applications
• CAD Design
• Drafting
• Electronics
• Geometry
• Physics
• Technical Writing
• Trigonometry
• Woodworking

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise