Highway Maintenance Worker salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $60,900 a year ($29.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 560 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,990 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $50,260. Pay here is 4% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $58,490. There are 1.4 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| 25th percentile | $56,020 | $26.93 |
| Median | $60,900 | $29.28 |
| 75th percentile | $67,900 | $32.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,990 | $36.54 |
| Average (mean) | $62,190 | $29.90 |
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 | $5,075 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,537.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,342.31 |
| Weekly | $1,171.15 |
| Hourly | $29.28 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $61,420 | 60 |
| Ames, IA | $60,980 | 110 |
| Iowa City, IA | $60,110 | 150 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $59,380 | 140 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,440 | 220 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $57,760 | 180 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $55,030 | 400 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $53,100 | 510 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $73,910 | $35.53 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $52,410 | $25.20 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $46,300 | $22.26 |
| Construction Laborer | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| Electrician | $62,840 | $30.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $82,090 | $39.47 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $75,040 | $36.08 |
| Carpenter | $61,360 | $29.50 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $62,610 | $30.10 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $57,410 | $27.60 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $59,700 | $28.70 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $66,000 | $31.73 |
| Roofer | $49,510 | $23.80 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $60,900 a year, or $29.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $75,990 a year. The top 25% earn $67,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,060 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $56,020 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 560 highway maintenance workers are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.