Highway Maintenance Worker salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $44,550 a year ($21.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,800 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $50,260. Pay here is 7% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $47,880. There are 0.40 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $44,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| 25th percentile | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| Median | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| 75th percentile | $51,730 | $24.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| Average (mean) | $44,770 | $21.53 |
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 | $3,712.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,856.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,713.46 |
| Weekly | $856.73 |
| Hourly | $21.42 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | $49,960 | 150 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $49,470 | 610 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $48,870 | 110 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $48,870 | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $48,870 | 310 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $48,870 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $48,870 | 200 |
| Wilmington, NC | $48,840 | 110 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,720 | 270 |
| Burlington, NC | $47,180 | 40 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $44,550 | 220 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $44,550 | 150 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $42,730 | 90 |
| Greenville, NC | $42,470 | 90 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $73,590 | $35.38 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $49,850 | $23.97 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $56,120 | $26.98 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $48,750 | $23.44 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,430 | $36.27 |
| Electrician | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Construction Laborer | $46,560 | $22.38 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| Carpenter | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $50,820 | $24.44 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $43,920 | $21.11 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $45,340 | $21.80 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $44,550 a year, or $21.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $58,800 a year. The top 25% earn $51,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,140 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $37,450 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 140 highway maintenance workers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.