Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Columbus, OH
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $49,840 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,638 take-home, or $3,470 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median highway maintenance worker salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,801
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,090
- Medicare (1.45%)$723
- Ohio income tax$588
- Take-home pay$41,638
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,280 | $17.92 | $31,892 | $2,658 |
| 25th percentile | $45,520 | $21.88 | $38,286 | $3,190 |
| Median (50th) | $49,840 | $23.96 | $41,638 | $3,470 |
| 75th percentile | $60,880 | $29.27 | $50,205 | $4,184 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,510 | $32.94 | $55,925 | $4,660 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,840 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median highway maintenance worker's $41,638 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,614 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 Columbus, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Columbus, OH | $49,840 | $41,638 | $43,614 |
*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
- Cincinnati, OH — $48,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in Columbus, OH?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $49,840 a year, or about $23.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,520 and $60,880.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $49,840 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $41,638 a year ($3,470 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $588 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,614 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #23 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance worker afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median highway maintenance worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,360
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $78,950
- Sheet Metal Worker — $77,760
- Construction and Building Inspector — $76,930
- Carpenter — $66,480
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $65,450
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $64,910
- Electrician — $64,700
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,260
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators — $62,490
- Construction Laborer — $60,540
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $51,810