Highway Maintenance Worker salary in Iowa
Highway Maintenance Workers in Iowa earn a median of $58,490 a year ($28.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,980 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $50,260. Iowa ranks 10th of 49 states for highway maintenance workers pay. There are 2.6 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $57,670, close to the median.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| 25th percentile | $52,860 | $25.41 |
| Median | $58,490 | $28.12 |
| 75th percentile | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,980 | $32.69 |
| Average (mean) | $57,670 | $27.73 |
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 | $4,874.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,437.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,249.62 |
| Weekly | $1,124.81 |
| Hourly | $28.12 |
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 Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $61,420 | 60 |
| Ames, IA | $60,980 | 110 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $60,900 | 560 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $71,630 | $34.44 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $57,980 | $27.87 |
| Fence Erector | $52,510 | $25.25 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $49,870 | $23.98 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $46,990 | $22.59 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $115,300 | $55.43 |
| Construction Laborer | $48,490 | $23.31 |
| Electrician | $60,860 | $29.26 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $78,510 | $37.75 |
| Carpenter | $57,710 | $27.75 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,890 | $30.72 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $60,330 | $29.01 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,220 | $27.99 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in Iowa is $58,490 a year, or $28.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in Iowa earn at least $67,980 a year. The top 25% earn $61,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,380 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $52,860 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in Iowa?
About 4,000 highway maintenance workers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.