Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Charlotte, NC
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $49,470 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,464 take-home, or $3,372 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median highway maintenance worker salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,756
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,067
- Medicare (1.45%)$717
- North Carolina income tax$1,465
- Take-home pay$40,464
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,120 | $17.85 | $31,034 | $2,586 |
| 25th percentile | $44,010 | $21.16 | $36,295 | $3,025 |
| Median (50th) | $49,470 | $23.78 | $40,464 | $3,372 |
| 75th percentile | $57,170 | $27.49 | $46,344 | $3,862 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,900 | $29.76 | $49,956 | $4,163 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,470 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median highway maintenance worker's $40,464 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,566 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Highway Maintenance Worker jobs are less concentrated in Charlotte, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.45), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #33 of 49 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $76,220 | $58,823 | $56,781 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $75,030 | $61,614 | $55,441 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $60,900 | $49,451 | $53,926 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $63,530 | $51,212 | $52,640 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $66,310 | $53,388 | $51,961 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,660 | $49,032 | $50,582 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,650 | $50,518 | $48,194 |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $58,470 | $46,600 | $48,024 |
| 33 | Charlotte, NC | $49,470 | $40,464 | $41,566 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 49 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in Charlotte, NC?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $49,470 a year, or about $23.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,010 and $57,170.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $49,470 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $40,464 a year ($3,372 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,465 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,566 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #33 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance worker afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median highway maintenance worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,300
- Construction and Building Inspector — $75,570
- Electrician — $59,080
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $58,690
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $52,500
- Carpenter — $50,960
- Sheet Metal Worker — $50,890
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,870
- Pipelayer — $48,980
- Roofer — $48,410
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $48,290
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $48,200