Highway Maintenance Worker salary in California
Highway Maintenance Workers in California earn a median of $59,580 a year ($28.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,520 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $50,260. California ranks 9th of 49 states for highway maintenance workers pay. There are 0.45 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $63,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,780 | $21.53 |
| 25th percentile | $49,550 | $23.82 |
| Median | $59,580 | $28.64 |
| 75th percentile | $76,510 | $36.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,520 | $40.63 |
| Average (mean) | $63,070 | $30.32 |
Half of highway maintenance workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,965 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,482.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,291.54 |
| Weekly | $1,145.77 |
| Hourly | $28.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highway Maintenance Worker salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,000 | 360 |
| Vallejo, CA | $76,510 | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $68,720 | 130 |
| Napa, CA | $66,830 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $66,550 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | $64,160 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $63,880 | 490 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,190 | 660 |
| Redding, CA | $60,010 | 170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,500 | 1,080 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $59,500 | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,500 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,540 | 2,330 |
| Modesto, CA | $56,670 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $56,670 | 100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $56,670 | 320 |
| Chico, CA | $54,480 | 100 |
| El Centro, CA | $54,480 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $54,480 | 200 |
| Visalia, CA | $53,360 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $50,200 | 340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $50,180 | 100 |
| Merced, CA | $49,240 | 60 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $47,500 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for highway maintenance workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $65,330 |
| Washington | $65,300 |
| Connecticut | $64,870 |
| Minnesota | $63,150 |
| Illinois | $61,700 |
| Massachusetts | $61,500 |
| Montana | $60,960 |
| North Dakota | $60,630 |
| California | $59,580 |
| Iowa | $58,490 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $101,290 | $48.70 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $56,120 | $26.98 |
| Fence Erector | $56,060 | $26.95 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $55,220 | $26.55 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $60,890 | $29.28 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $141,180 | $67.88 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $71,170 | $34.22 |
| Carpenter | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,270 | $28.98 |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $72,830 | $35.01 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,020 | $28.38 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $87,160 | $41.90 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-4051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in California?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in California is $59,580 a year, or $28.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in California?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in California earn at least $84,520 a year. The top 25% earn $76,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,780 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $49,550 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in California?
About 8,150 highway maintenance workers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.