What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Highway Maintenance Workers in the U.S. earn more than $50,260 a year — the middle 80% land between $36,230 and $71,970. About 154,960 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Highway Maintenance Workers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Craft and related trades workers earn about ₹16,825 a month on average — around ₹2.0 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$50,260typical pay / year
154,960people in this work
$71,970+top 10% earn
₹2.0 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Analysing2
Perform routine inspections of roads
+Walk the specified 2.4 km road section between Oak Street and Pine Hollow, record surface defects, crack…
Perform routine inspections of roads
+Walk the specified 2.4 km road section between Oak Street and Pine Hollow, record surface defects, crack widths, rut depths and GPS points, photograph each defect, note traffic hazards and safety measures taken, then submit the inspection log by end of shift.
The tools that do the workWeb browserESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Mow or clear brush along roads
+Mow and clear the shoulder and brush along County Road 17 from the maple grove to the bridge, remove cuttings…
Mow or clear brush along roads
+Mow and clear the shoulder and brush along County Road 17 from the maple grove to the bridge, remove cuttings from the road surface, load debris into the truck, and report any damaged guardrails by end of day Friday.
The tools that do the workWeb browserjob descriptionsO*NET
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Fixing1
Patch cracks
+Patch asphalt cracks along Elm Street between 4th and 8th Avenue: clean and widen each crack, apply hot pour…
Patch cracks
+Patch asphalt cracks along Elm Street between 4th and 8th Avenue: clean and widen each crack, apply hot pour sealant, tamp smooth, then log materials used and photo the repairs before leaving the site today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptions
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Move3
Set out signs and cones to divert traffic
+Set out signs and cones to divert traffic at the Pine Lane culvert replacement: place advance warning signs…
Set out signs and cones to divert traffic
+Set out signs and cones to divert traffic at the Pine Lane culvert replacement: place advance warning signs 300 feet both ways, set cones to create a single alternating lane, station a flagger, and confirm placement with a site photo before opening the work area.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
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Remove litter and debris from roadways
+Remove all litter and debris from Route 9 between the park entrance and the school, sweep the shoulders, pick…
Remove litter and debris from roadways
+Remove all litter and debris from Route 9 between the park entrance and the school, sweep the shoulders, pick up sharp objects into the hazardous bin, haul recyclables separately, and send a damage or hazard report if pavement is compromised.
The tools that do the workWeb browserjob descriptionsO*NET
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Perform snow and ice control activities
+Perform snow and ice control on Maple Avenue from Main to 12th Street: pre-treat intersections before the…
Perform snow and ice control activities
+Perform snow and ice control on Maple Avenue from Main to 12th Street: pre-treat intersections before the storm, plow to clear travel lanes, apply traction sand to bridges and hills, record start and finish times and spread rates after each pass.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Follow health and safety procedures in construction
+Carry out the site induction, check the PPE and barriers, follow the isolation plan for the work area,…
Follow health and safety procedures in construction
+Carry out the site induction, check the PPE and barriers, follow the isolation plan for the work area, complete the daily risk assessment and toolbox talk, then record any defects and report them to the site manager before starting demolition of the surface.
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Types of asphalt coverings
+Survey the driveway and note each existing surfacing type, measure areas of asphalt, chip seal and surface…
Types of asphalt coverings
+Survey the driveway and note each existing surfacing type, measure areas of asphalt, chip seal and surface dressing, photograph samples, list material properties and recommended repair approaches, then draft a short guidance sheet for the homeowner.
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Use safety equipment in construction
+Put on high-vis vest, hard hat, gloves, safety glasses and harness before entering the site, check gas…
Use safety equipment in construction
+Put on high-vis vest, hard hat, gloves, safety glasses and harness before entering the site, check gas detector and fire extinguisher are functional, log start time and any hazards, and wait for traffic control to confirm lane closure before work begins.
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Remove road surface
+Close the work zone with cones and signs, confirm the jackhammer and cold planer are fuelled and guarded, cut…
Remove road surface
+Close the work zone with cones and signs, confirm the jackhammer and cold planer are fuelled and guarded, cut and remove the top three inches of road surface in 10x10 foot panels, wheel away debris to the loader pit and sweep the remaining surface.
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Inspect asphalt
+Walk the lane, measure and photograph all cracks and potholes, record depth and width of defects, note binder…
Inspect asphalt
+Walk the lane, measure and photograph all cracks and potholes, record depth and width of defects, note binder and surface courses, upload the inspection photos and a one-page condition report to the work folder before leaving site.
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Transport construction supplies
+Load pallets of cold mix, cones, signs and hand tools onto the truck in secure stacks, strap the load by…
Transport construction supplies
+Load pallets of cold mix, cones, signs and hand tools onto the truck in secure stacks, strap the load by weight zones, confirm vehicle weight and route, then deliver to 58 Maple Street and get a signed delivery note from the site foreman.
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Mechanical tools
+Check pneumatic breakers, drills and grinders for damage, replace worn bits, test safety cutoffs and torque…
Mechanical tools
+Check pneumatic breakers, drills and grinders for damage, replace worn bits, test safety cutoffs and torque settings, calibrate the impact wrench to spec, and record maintenance actions in the tool log before issuing to crew.
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Inspect construction supplies
+Count and inspect incoming bags of cement, asphalt emulsion drums and traffic signs against the purchase…
Inspect construction supplies
+Count and inspect incoming bags of cement, asphalt emulsion drums and traffic signs against the purchase order, note any dents or shortfills, photograph issues, and send a short discrepancy report to procurement and the site manager by end of shift.
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Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment
+Drive the crew truck with tools and safety cones to 1422 Maple Avenue, load the crew and equipment, follow…
Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment
+Drive the crew truck with tools and safety cones to 1422 Maple Avenue, load the crew and equipment, follow the planned route to 8th Street jobsite, and confirm crew arrival by radio before leaving to next call.
The tools that do the workWeb browserjob descriptionsO*NET
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Apply oil to road surfaces, using sprayers.
+Apply oil binder across the patched lane on Pine Road using the sprayer, maintain even coverage at the…
Apply oil to road surfaces, using sprayers.
+Apply oil binder across the patched lane on Pine Road using the sprayer, maintain even coverage at the specified rate, stop and reload when capacity drops, and record the batch and start time on the job sheet.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Inspect markers to verify accurate installation.
+Walk the 400‑meter stretch on Elm Boulevard, inspect each installed marker for correct alignment and adhesive…
Inspect markers to verify accurate installation.
+Walk the 400‑meter stretch on Elm Boulevard, inspect each installed marker for correct alignment and adhesive bond, note any loose or missing markers with photographs, and submit the defect list to site supervisor before noon.
The tools that do the workWeb browserO*NET
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Paint traffic control lines and place pavement traffic messages, by hand or using machines.
+Paint the new crosswalk lines and stencil the SPEED HUMP message by hand and with the line machine at Oak…
Paint traffic control lines and place pavement traffic messages, by hand or using machines.
+Paint the new crosswalk lines and stencil the SPEED HUMP message by hand and with the line machine at Oak Avenue, keep wet‑edge consistent, replace cones as you go, and sign off the completion sheet when paint reaches specified dry time.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Blend compounds to form adhesive mixtures used for marker installation.
+Measure and mix the adhesive compound to the manufacturer's ratio for marker installation, keep to pot life…
Blend compounds to form adhesive mixtures used for marker installation.
+Measure and mix the adhesive compound to the manufacturer's ratio for marker installation, keep to pot life limits, label the batch, and hand the mixed adhesive to the installer with the safety data sheet attached.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Perform repairs when called for
+Respond to the repair call at 621 Birch Lane, assess the fault, perform on‑site repairs using the mechanical…
Perform repairs when called for
+Respond to the repair call at 621 Birch Lane, assess the fault, perform on‑site repairs using the mechanical tool kit, log parts used and time, and notify the dispatcher when the job is closed and ready for billing.
The tools that do the workWeb browserESCO
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Says who?
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The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses