Highway Maintenance Worker salary in Washington
Highway Maintenance Workers in Washington earn a median of $65,300 a year ($31.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,590 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,060 for the top 10%. That is 30% higher than the national median of $50,260. Washington ranks 2nd of 49 states for highway maintenance workers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.73 highway maintenance workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $67,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for highway maintenance workers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,830 | $26.36 |
| 25th percentile | $62,460 | $30.03 |
| Median | $65,300 | $31.39 |
| 75th percentile | $75,030 | $36.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,060 | $38.49 |
| Average (mean) | $67,870 | $32.63 |
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 | $5,441.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,720.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,511.54 |
| Weekly | $1,255.77 |
| Hourly | $31.39 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,030 | 820 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $72,910 | 90 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $71,140 | 80 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $66,080 | 80 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $65,300 | 550 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $65,120 | 80 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $64,430 | 80 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $63,740 | 250 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $62,880 | 40 |
| Yakima, WA | $62,880 | 130 |
| Bellingham, WA | $62,330 | 100 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $54,930 | 50 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $60,160 | $28.92 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $96,140 | $46.22 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $63,090 | $30.33 |
| Fence Erector | $51,860 | $24.93 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $137,180 | $65.95 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $58,740 | $28.24 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $69,380 | $33.36 |
| Carpenter | $74,190 | $35.67 |
| Construction Laborer | $57,720 | $27.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $109,570 | $52.68 |
| Electrician | $95,220 | $45.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $81,030 | $38.96 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $81,700 | $39.28 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,650 | $28.68 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for highway maintenance workers in Washington is $65,300 a year, or $31.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid highway maintenance workers make in Washington?
The top 10% of highway maintenance workers in Washington earn at least $80,060 a year. The top 25% earn $75,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for highway maintenance workers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,830 a year, and a quarter of highway maintenance workers earn $62,460 or less.
How many highway maintenance workers work in Washington?
About 2,590 highway maintenance workers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.