Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Riverside, CA
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $61,190 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,830 take-home, or $4,069 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median highway maintenance worker salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,163
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,794
- Medicare (1.45%)$887
- California income tax$1,721
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$795
- Take-home pay$48,830
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,790 | $22.98 | $39,041 | $3,253 |
| 25th percentile | $50,400 | $24.23 | $40,948 | $3,412 |
| Median (50th) | $61,190 | $29.42 | $48,830 | $4,069 |
| 75th percentile | $74,740 | $35.93 | $57,671 | $4,806 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,000 | $37.50 | $59,661 | $4,972 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,190 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median highway maintenance worker's $48,830 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,875 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.38), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Riverside, CA | $61,190 | $48,830 | $45,875 |
*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 California
- Sacramento, CA — $63,880
- Los Angeles, CA — $58,540
- San Francisco, CA — $59,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in Riverside, CA?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $61,190 a year, or about $29.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,400 and $74,740.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $61,190 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $48,830 a year ($4,069 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,516 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,875 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #17 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance worker afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median highway maintenance worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $89,950
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,710
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $78,720
- Electrician — $72,790
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $72,790
- Carpenter — $70,880
- Sheet Metal Worker — $68,780
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,920
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $63,330
- Roofer — $62,050
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $61,420
- Glazier — $60,750