Career comparison
Highway Maintenance Worker vs. Paving Equipment Operator
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Paving equipment operators earn more at the median ($53,340 vs. $50,260), while highway maintenance workers usually get to work faster (Months on the job of training). Highway maintenance workers keep highways safe by patching roads, plowing snow and maintaining signs. Paving equipment operators run pavers and rollers that build roads, parking lots and runways.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Highway Maintenance Worker | Paving Equipment Operator | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $50,260 ($24.16/hr) | $53,340 ($25.64/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,230 – $71,970 | $38,230 – $92,230 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.4% (about as fast as average) | -0.9% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 11,800 | 3,100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Months on the job | Months on the job |
| Key credential | CDL | Operating engineers apprenticeship |
| Work setting | Workers are outdoors on roads in all weather.. | Operators work outdoors on roads, highways and lots.. |
What each job does
Highway Maintenance Worker
- Patch pavement
- Plow snow
- Spread salt
- Mow and clear brush
- Repair guardrails
Paving Equipment Operator
- Operate pavers
- Run screeds
- Operate rollers
- Control thickness
- Check grade
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors, hands-on work, physical work, and teamwork. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose highway maintenance worker if…
- I like outdoor work
- I like driving equipment
- I don’t mind storms
Choose paving equipment operator if…
- I like heavy equipment
- I don’t mind heat
- I like teamwork
Still torn? Take the Highway Maintenance Worker fit quiz and the Paving Equipment Operator fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, highway maintenance worker or paving equipment operator?
Paving Equipment Operators earn more at the median: $53,340 versus $50,260 for highway maintenance workers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Highway Maintenance Workers typically train faster (Months on the job) than paving equipment operators (Months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects highway maintenance workers to grow +3.4% from 2025–35, compared with -0.9% for paving equipment operators.