As of June 2026, Highway Maintenance Workers has an AI-exposure score of 44/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Highway Maintenance Workers

44/100
Moderate exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 18% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$50,260. About 12,300 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Construction roles

Highway Maintenance Workers (you)
44
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
44
Pile Driver Operators
43
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
43
Boilermakers
43
Helpers--Extraction Workers
43
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as durable (53%).

Augmentable
  • Flag motorists to warn them of obstacles or repair work ahead.
  • Set out signs and cones around work areas to divert traffic.
  • Perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and heavy equipment.
  • Drive trucks to transport crews and equipment to work sites.
  • Apply oil to road surfaces, using sprayers.
  • Remove litter and debris from roadways, including debris from rock and mud slides.
  • Perform roadside landscaping work, such as clearing weeds and brush, and planting and trimming trees.
  • 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.
  • Clean and clear debris from culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, ditches, and other drain structures.
Durable
  • 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.
  • Haul and spread sand, gravel, and clay to fill washouts and repair road shoulders.
  • Dump, spread, and tamp asphalt, using pneumatic tampers, to repair joints and patch broken pavement.
  • Paint traffic control lines and place pavement traffic messages, by hand or using machines.
  • Erect, install, or repair guardrails, road shoulders, berms, highway markers, warning signals, and highway lighting, using hand tools and power tools.
  • 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.
  • Inspect markers to verify accurate installation.
  • Inspect, clean, and repair drainage systems, bridges, tunnels, and other structures.

Safer adjacent roles

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
80% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$59,850
41
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
72% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$53,340
42
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
64% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$70,070
44
Pile Driver Operators
56% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$73,300
43
Construction Laborers
48% skills overlap · Low exposure · ~US$47,120
39
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$49,880
41
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$49,590
53
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$57,430
41

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.