Highway Maintenance Worker salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $76,220 a year ($36.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,530 for the top 10%. That is 52% higher than the national median of $50,260. Pay here is 24% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $61,700. There are 0.91 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $72,470, close to the median.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,110 | $20.25 |
| 25th percentile | $53,130 | $25.55 |
| Median | $76,220 | $36.64 |
| 75th percentile | $91,140 | $43.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,530 | $49.29 |
| Average (mean) | $72,470 | $34.84 |
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 | $6,351.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,175.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,931.54 |
| Weekly | $1,465.77 |
| Hourly | $36.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highway Maintenance Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $73,080 | 100 |
| Springfield, IL | $71,320 | 180 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $65,730 | 290 |
| Peoria, IL | $61,410 | 430 |
| Bloomington, IL | $61,290 | 190 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $55,030 | 400 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $55,030 | 320 |
| Decatur, IL | $54,790 | 120 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $52,160 | 1,960 |
| Rockford, IL | $50,610 | 210 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $50,250 | 140 |
| Columbus, IN | $49,110 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,970 | 940 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $48,780 | 160 |
| Bloomington, IN | $48,630 | 60 |
| Evansville, IN | $48,480 | 100 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $48,020 | 180 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $47,930 | 90 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $46,750 | 50 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $46,730 | 1,160 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,570 | 490 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $45,080 | 80 |
| Muncie, IN | $45,070 | 50 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $44,660 | 100 |
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 |
See Highway Maintenance Worker pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $82,640 | $39.73 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $61,330 | $29.49 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $146,580 | $70.47 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $52,210 | $25.10 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $50,650 | $24.35 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| Electrician | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Carpenter | $80,440 | $38.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $111,260 | $53.49 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $103,100 | $49.57 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Roofer | $82,090 | $39.47 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $76,220 a year, or $36.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $102,530 a year. The top 25% earn $91,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,110 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $53,130 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 4,110 highway maintenance workers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.