Highway Maintenance Worker salary in Illinois
Highway Maintenance Workers in Illinois earn a median of $61,700 a year ($29.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,790 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $50,260. Illinois ranks 5th of 49 states for highway maintenance workers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.8 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $66,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,680 | $17.15 |
| 25th percentile | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Median | $61,700 | $29.66 |
| 75th percentile | $88,790 | $42.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,790 | $48.46 |
| Average (mean) | $66,410 | $31.93 |
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 | $5,141.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,570.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,373.08 |
| Weekly | $1,186.54 |
| Hourly | $29.66 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $76,220 | 4,110 |
| 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 |
| Decatur, IL | $54,790 | 120 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $52,160 | 1,960 |
| Rockford, IL | $50,610 | 210 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $47,930 | 90 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $45,080 | 80 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $78,340 | $37.66 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $61,330 | $29.49 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $53,190 | $25.57 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $78,910 | $37.94 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $133,690 | $64.27 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| Fence Erector | $50,710 | $24.38 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Electrician | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Carpenter | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $105,750 | $50.84 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $99,950 | $48.05 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,260 | $29.45 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in Illinois is $61,700 a year, or $29.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in Illinois earn at least $100,790 a year. The top 25% earn $88,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,680 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $45,550 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in Illinois?
About 10,790 highway maintenance workers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.