Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $48,970 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,963 take-home, or $3,414 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median highway maintenance worker salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,696
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,036
- Medicare (1.45%)$710
- Ohio income tax$564
- Take-home pay$40,963
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro spans Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,530 | $18.04 | $32,086 | $2,674 |
| 25th percentile | $44,160 | $21.23 | $37,231 | $3,103 |
| Median (50th) | $48,970 | $23.54 | $40,963 | $3,414 |
| 75th percentile | $62,180 | $29.89 | $51,214 | $4,268 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,230 | $34.25 | $57,764 | $4,814 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,970 buys in Cincinnati, OH
Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 4.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median highway maintenance worker's $40,963 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,952 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 about as common in Cincinnati, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | Cincinnati, OH | $48,970 | $40,963 | $42,952 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 49 metros →
Highway Maintenance Worker salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $51,900
- Columbus, OH — $49,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $48,970 a year, or about $23.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,160 and $62,180.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $48,970 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $40,963 a year ($3,414 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $564 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,952 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #26 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance worker afford rent in Cincinnati, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cincinnati, OH is $1,043 a month ($1,342 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median highway maintenance worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $80,520
- Construction and Building Inspector — $76,440
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $75,700
- Sheet Metal Worker — $73,690
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $70,760
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $66,950
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $65,160
- Electrician — $63,490
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,990
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators — $60,680
- Carpenter — $60,110
- Construction Laborer — $54,930