Salary Range
Low (10th %)$32,280
Median$47,360
High (90th %)$66,450
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Maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way. Duties include patching broken or eroded pavement and repairing guard rails, highway markers, and snow fences. May also mow or clear brush from along road, or plow snow from roadway.
The occupation "Highway Maintenance Workers" has an automation risk of 20.8%, which is very close to its base risk of 21.1%. This moderate risk percentage reflects that, while certain tasks in this field can be replaced or assisted by machines or automated systems, a significant portion of the work still relies on human involvement. Many routine and repetitive tasks, such as setting out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic, flagging motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead, and performing preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment, are among the top areas that could be automated. Modern advancements in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and sensor technologies are making these aspects of highway maintenance increasingly susceptible to automation, thereby justifying the risk level for this occupation. Despite these risks, highway maintenance work also includes a substantial number of tasks that remain resistant to automation. The most resistant tasks are those that require hands-on skills, adaptability, and judgment. For instance, blending compounds to form adhesive mixtures used for marker installation necessitates practical know-how and situational adjustments that are challenging for machines to replicate accurately. Similarly, placing and removing snow fences to prevent snow accumulation on highways depends on the ability to navigate variable terrain and weather, making it less suitable for full automation. Inspecting markers for accurate installation also calls for keen situational awareness and attention to quality, skills that current automated systems cannot reliably deliver without human oversight. The primary bottleneck skill protecting "Highway Maintenance Workers" from higher automation risk is originality, with measured levels of 2.1% and 2.0%. This skill involves generating new ideas and unique solutions, particularly valuable in scenarios where unexpected challenges arise—such as quickly addressing road hazards that require improvised repairs or innovative problem-solving. Machines and automated systems continue to lag behind humans in this domain, as creative thinking and the ability to adapt on the fly are critical in highway maintenance environments. This reliance on originality and practical judgment significantly limits the extent to which automation can replace human workers in these roles, keeping the overall automation risk at a relatively moderate level.
Filter by Automatable Status
Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.
Non-Automatable
Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
Non-Automatable
Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment.
Non-Automatable
Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites.
Partially Automatable
Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures.
Non-Automatable
Drive heavy equipment and vehicles with adjustable attachments to sweep debris from paved surfaces, mow grass and weeds, remove snow and ice, and spread salt and sand.
Partially Automatable
Haul and spread sand, gravel, and clay to fill washouts and repair road shoulders.
Non-Automatable
Inspect, clean, and repair drainage systems, bridges, tunnels, and other structures.
Partially Automatable
Remove litter and debris from roadways, including debris from rock and mud slides.
Non-Automatable
Dump, spread, and tamp asphalt, using pneumatic tampers, to repair joints and patch broken pavement.
Non-Automatable
Perform roadside landscaping work, such as clearing weeds and brush, and planting and trimming trees.
Non-Automatable
Apply poisons along roadsides and in animal burrows to eliminate unwanted roadside vegetation and rodents.
Partially Automatable
Measure and mark locations for installation of markers, using tape, string, or chalk.
Partially Automatable
Apply oil to road surfaces, using sprayers.
Partially Automatable
Inspect markers to verify accurate installation.
Partially Automatable
Place and remove snow fences used to prevent the accumulation of drifting snow on highways.
Non-Automatable
Blend compounds to form adhesive mixtures used for marker installation.
Partially Automatable
Paint traffic control lines and place pavement traffic messages, by hand or using machines.
Non-Automatable
Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools.
Non-Automatable
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Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentWorking with ComputersDocumenting/Recording InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
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Transportation Engineers
Medium49.13%
Develop plans for surface transportation projects, according to established engineering standards and state or federal construction policy. Prepare designs, specifications, or estimates for transportation facilities. Plan modifications of existing streets, highways, or freeways to improve traffic flow.
Construction Laborers
Low21.08%
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Low27.26%
Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.
Pile Driver Operators
Low24.77%
Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Medium39.01%
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
Helpers--Electricians
Low13.85%
Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Medium36.40%
Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
Low20.92%
Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Low25.86%
Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or drains. May patch walls and partitions of tank, replace damaged drain tile, or repair breaks in underground piping.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Medium34.02%
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
Medium39.66%
Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
Low17.13%
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
Helpers--Extraction Workers
Low24.71%
Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying equipment or cleaning work area.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Low26.56%
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
Rail Car Repairers
Low23.46%
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Low15.02%
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
Low30.19%
Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Medium46.13%
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.
Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
Medium49.50%
Inspect and monitor transportation equipment, vehicles, or systems to ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Medium46.81%
Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.
Parking Enforcement Workers
Medium47.22%
Patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.
Crossing Guards and Flaggers
Medium47.59%
Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.
Pest Control Workers
Low26.55%
Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Low19.04%
Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.
Tree Trimmers and Pruners
Low12.36%
Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, hand pruners, clippers, and power pruners. Works off the ground in the tree canopy and may use truck-mounted lifts.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Medium56.73%
Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.
Motorboat Operators
Medium33.94%
Operate small motor-driven boats. May assist in navigational activities.
Bridge and Lock Tenders
Medium54.95%
Operate and tend bridges, canal locks, and lighthouses to permit marine passage on inland waterways, near shores, and at danger points in waterway passages. May supervise such operations. Includes drawbridge operators, lock operators, and slip bridge operators.
Aircraft Service Attendants
Low22.22%
Service aircraft with fuel. May de-ice aircraft, refill water and cooling agents, empty sewage tanks, service air and oxygen systems, or clean and polish exterior.
Traffic Technicians
Medium59.96%
Conduct field studies to determine traffic volume, speed, effectiveness of signals, adequacy of lighting, and other factors influencing traffic conditions, under direction of traffic engineer.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Medium40.81%
Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.