Highway Maintenance Worker salary in North Carolina
Highway Maintenance Workers in North Carolina earn a median of $47,880 a year ($23.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,870 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $50,260. North Carolina ranks 33rd of 49 states for highway maintenance workers pay. There are 0.76 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $47,300, close to the median.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| 25th percentile | $41,440 | $19.92 |
| Median | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| 75th percentile | $53,270 | $25.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| Average (mean) | $47,300 | $22.74 |
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 | $3,990 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,995 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,841.54 |
| Weekly | $920.77 |
| Hourly | $23.02 |
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 North Carolina
| 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 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $44,550 | 140 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $66,080 | $31.77 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $43,180 | $20.76 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $47,280 | $22.73 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| Fence Erector | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $107,700 | $51.78 |
| Construction Laborer | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,270 | $36.19 |
| Electrician | $56,800 | $27.31 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Carpenter | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $39,880 | $19.17 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in North Carolina is $47,880 a year, or $23.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in North Carolina earn at least $58,870 a year. The top 25% earn $53,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,980 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $41,440 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in North Carolina?
About 3,750 highway maintenance workers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.