Highway Maintenance Workers Salary
In North Dakota, highway maintenance workers earn $60,630 at the median, or about $29.15 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $68,208 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in North Dakota?
About highway maintenance workers
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What this looks like in North Dakota
North Dakota sits well above the national pay line for highway maintenance workers, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 25% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, North Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for highway maintenance workerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level highway maintenance workers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Highway Maintenance Workers salary by metro in North Dakota
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | $62K | +2% | 160 |
| Fargo | $61K | +0% | 190 |
| Bismarck | $59K | -2% | 130 |
| Minot | $58K | -4% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track highway maintenance workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a highway maintenance worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 25% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for highway maintenance workers in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new highway maintenance workers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,844/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is highway maintenance worker a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $61K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for highway maintenance workers?
North Dakota pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do highway maintenance workers make in North Dakota?
The median is $60,630 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,400, and experienced highway maintenance workers can clear $78,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,131/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 25% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a highway maintenance workers salary go in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median highway maintenance workers salary is worth about $68,208 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do highway maintenance workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.