Highway Maintenance Workers
Maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way. Duties include patching broken or eroded pavement, repairing guard rails, highway markers, and snow fences. May also mow or clear brush from along road or plow snow from roadway.
AI Impact Summary
Highway Maintenance Workers faces low AI displacement risk with a score of 22/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 12% of all analyzed occupations. Of 19 analyzed tasks, 1 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Highway Maintenance Workers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path
by Pluralsight
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
19 tasks analyzed
Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.
Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment.
Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites.
Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools.
Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures.
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.
Haul and spread sand, gravel, and clay to fill washouts and repair road shoulders.
Inspect, clean, and repair drainage systems, bridges, tunnels, and other structures.
Remove litter and debris from roadways, including debris from rock and mud slides.
Dump, spread, and tamp asphalt, using pneumatic tampers, to repair joints and patch broken pavement.
Apply poisons along roadsides and in animal burrows to eliminate unwanted roadside vegetation and rodents.
Measure and mark locations for installation of markers, using tape, string, or chalk.
Paint traffic control lines and place pavement traffic messages, by hand or using machines.
Perform roadside landscaping work, such as clearing weeds and brush, and planting and trimming trees.
Apply oil to road surfaces, using sprayers.
Inspect markers to verify accurate installation.
Place and remove snow fences used to prevent the accumulation of drifting snow on highways.
Blend compounds to form adhesive mixtures used for marker installation.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 5% | |
| Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 5% | |
| Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 8% | |
| Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 6% | |
| 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. | 25Estimated | 19.0% | 12% | |
| Haul and spread sand, gravel, and clay to fill washouts and repair road shoulders. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 8% | |
| Inspect, clean, and repair drainage systems, bridges, tunnels, and other structures. | 15Estimated | 15.0% | 6% | |
| Remove litter and debris from roadways, including debris from rock and mud slides. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 6% | |
| Dump, spread, and tamp asphalt, using pneumatic tampers, to repair joints and patch broken pavement. | 25Estimated | 19.0% | 8% | |
| Apply poisons along roadsides and in animal burrows to eliminate unwanted roadside vegetation and rodents. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Measure and mark locations for installation of markers, using tape, string, or chalk. | 70Estimated | 61.0% | 3% | |
| Paint traffic control lines and place pavement traffic messages, by hand or using machines. | 70Estimated | 61.0% | 4% | |
| Perform roadside landscaping work, such as clearing weeds and brush, and planting and trimming trees. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 5% | |
| Apply oil to road surfaces, using sprayers. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 2% | |
| Inspect markers to verify accurate installation. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 2% | |
| Place and remove snow fences used to prevent the accumulation of drifting snow on highways. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 2% | |
| Blend compounds to form adhesive mixtures used for marker installation. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 27.4%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$49,070
per year
Mean Wage
$51,410
per year
Employment
152K
workers
Wage Range
$35,030 - $69,210
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsPaving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
18%Median salary: $51,650
Higher risk than 4% of other occupations
Pile-Driver Operators
20%Median salary: $70,510
Higher risk than 6% of other occupations
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators
23%Higher risk than 13% of other occupations
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
24%Median salary: $57,440
Higher risk than 16% of other occupations
Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining
24%Median salary: $57,980
Higher risk than 16% of other occupations
Helpers--Extraction Workers
28%Median salary: $48,400
Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
30%Median salary: $67,370
Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
32%Median salary: $58,030
Higher risk than 51% of other occupations
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
43%Median salary: $71,510
Higher risk than 87% of other occupations
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
44%Median salary: $60,020
Higher risk than 89% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Highway Maintenance Workers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change