"As a highway maintenance worker, I keep roads safe, functional, and ready for travel. Repairing pavement, removing debris, and installing signs are part of the job now. But I'm learning, and eventually I can work my way
up to managing a crew. 

There are a lot of opportunities for promotions and upward movement in this career. People often see the heavy machinery and our crews working in all-weather conditions, but many forget the physical stamina it takes each day. Every mile we travel supports our communities, so I take pride in knowing our hard work allows people to stay connected through travel and keeps people moving where they need to go."

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Job Description

SOC Code: 47-4051

Highway Maintenance Workers 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. *

*Source: This information is based on O*NET™ data. O*NET is a trademark registered to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

Top Job Skills:

• Preventative maintenance
• Laying pipes
• Pouring concrete
• Lawn maintenance
• Job hazard analysis

General Work Activities:

• Information Input
  • Inspect industrial or commercial equipment to ensure proper operation
• Work Output
  • Direct vehicle traffic
  • Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment
  • Install fencing or other barriers
  • Remove debris or vegetation from work sites
  • Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed
  • Spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces
  • Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials
  • Maintain plumbing structures or fixtures
  • Compact materials to create level bases
  • Pour materials into or on designated areas
  • Spread concrete or other aggregate mixtures

Source: SC Works Online Services (SCWOS)

*All data is factual, but names, Images, and quotations have been adapted to protect the Identity of employees and businesses.

Job Statistics

 

Examples of Workforce Areas with Job Openings

• Midlands
• Upper Savannah
• Pee Dee
• Catawba
• Greenville
• Lower Savannah

Source: SC Works Online Services. Ask an SC Works representative for more information about postings in your area.

Examples of Employers with Job Openings

• South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT)
• Application Partners, LLC
• Express Employment Professionals
• Williamsburg County Govt.

Source: SC Works Online Services. Ask an SC Works representative for more information about postings in your area

Related Occupations

• Construction Laborers
• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
• Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
• Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment

NOTE: All data based on state averages. Information may vary depending on region, experience, and specific employment situation. Last Updated: 2025

Learn More with SCWOS

SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) is the state’s largest job database and provides all of South Carolina's job postings from all major sites, including Monster and Career Builder, in one resource. SCWOS has thousands of positions listed by employers all over the state. To access SCWOS, visit jobs.scworks.org.

Find in-depth breakdowns of occupational statistics such as necessary job certifications, job skills and abilities, current job openings, overview of general work activities, and more by visiting O*NET.org.