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| Highway Maintenance Workers |
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| Employment Increase: |
29% |
| People In Field: |
217,000 |
| Average Salary: |
$33,075 |
| Qualifications: |
High School |
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Nature of the Work:
Highway maintenance workers keep roadways safe and
in good repair. Among their responsibilities are filling
and patching holes; painting dividing lines; and clearing ice,
snow, and fallen leaves. Crews also check and repair the signs
marking highway exits and the guard rails that keep travelers
from driving off the road. The shoulders alongside roads and
the drainage systems nearby are also maintained by
highway maintenance workers. To do their jobs, the road crews
use heavy machinery including dump trucks, snow plows,
and salt spreaders. Landscaped highways have lawns that need
to be mowed and trees that need to be trimmed, and
highway maintenance workers perform these tasks. Flaggers
control traffic traveling through work areas, guiding drivers
away from potentially dangerous situations.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement:
A driver's license and a high school diploma are
generally necessary for people interested in this field. Many of the
skills required can be learned on the job, but applicants must
be able to read and understand training manuals. Passing a
civil service exam is often necessary. People who drive heavy
trucks require special drivers' licenses. In many states,
highway maintenance workers belong to unions.
Job Outlook:
It is estimated that there will be 217,000 highway
maintenance workers by 2005. In places where new growth
and construction are limited, most of the highway work
being done is limited to necessary maintenance. Much of the
money that pays for roads to be built is public money, and
federal and state budget debates strongly determine how, when,
and where highways will be built or paved.
Sources of Additional Information:
For more information on careers in highway maintenance, contact:
International Union of Operating Engineers
1125 Seventeenth St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
National Asphalt Pavement Association
NAPA Building
5100 Forbes Blvd.
Lanham, MD 20706-4413
You can also contact the town, city, or county
highway department listed in your local telephone directory.
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