Highway workers in Ohio help keep driver safe by maintaining roads and directing traffic.
In the state of Ohio, there were an estimated 8,270 highway maintenance workers as of May 2010, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. These workers help to ensure the safety and functionality of roads around the state by performing a wide range of duties. Common tasks performed include repairing damaged concrete and pavement, fixing guard rails, putting up or updating highway markers and signs, and mowing grass on medians or road side areas. The average salary of an Ohio highway worker is dependent on a few conditions.
State Salary Average Range
According to a salary survey by the bureau in May of 2010, highway maintenance workers in Ohio earned an average salary of $36,070 a year, slightly higher than the national average of $35,830 a year. Most workers in the state earned wages between $28,660 and $44,120 a year, representing the middle 50 percent. However, there were exceptions. Workers in the bottom 10th percentile reported salaries of less than $20,190 a year while the highest paid made more than $51,080 a year, comprising of the top 10th percentile. These salaries were formulated based on hourly wages and 2,080 work hours per year.
Different Salaries in Different Cities or Areas
Several cities reported salaries similar to the state average, such as Canton with an annual mean wage of $35,640 and Akron with an annual average pay of $37,890 a year. However, workers in the Huntington-Ashland metro area only averaged $25,190 a year and in the Steubenville-Weirton area they were paid $23,740 a year on average. Higher-paying areas included Sandusky at $40,740 a year on average and Dayton at $41,840 annually. However, the Cincinnati metro area was the highest-paying region in the bureau report, boasting an annual mean wage of $42,780 for highway workers.
Benefits
Highway maintenance workers in Ohio are typically employed by the government at the state or local level and enjoy standard government employee benefits. Life, health, dental and disability insurance are commonly provided as well as workers' compensation, paid holidays and vacations and a retirement plan. Public employees received an average pension of $44,043 a year as of January 2011.
Qualifications
According to the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, all highway workers in Ohio must have formal education in arithmetic, reading, writing and English vocabulary. Those hired for positions involving motorized equipment must also posses a current commercial driver's license. Positions are based by class title with varying requirements regarding highway maintenance experience and knowledge as well as equipment and motor vehicle usage.
Tags: workers Ohio, highway maintenance, maintenance workers, 10th percentile, annual mean, annual mean wage