Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Washington, DC
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $60,810 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,535 take-home, or $4,045 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$5,117
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,770
- Medicare (1.45%)$882
- District of Columbia income tax$2,506
- Take-home pay$48,535
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,540 | $21.89 | $37,205 | $3,100 |
| 25th percentile | $52,400 | $25.19 | $42,305 | $3,525 |
| Median (50th) | $60,810 | $29.24 | $48,535 | $4,045 |
| 75th percentile | $68,660 | $33.01 | $54,116 | $4,510 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,890 | $36.97 | $59,355 | $4,946 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,810 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median highway maintenance worker's $48,535 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,575 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 Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.28), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $60,810 | $48,535 | $44,575 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $60,810 a year, or about $29.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,400 and $68,660.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $60,810 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $48,535 a year ($4,045 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,506 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,575 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #20 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance worker afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median highway maintenance worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $83,540
- Construction and Building Inspector — $80,150
- Electrician — $75,930
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $71,860
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $68,320
- Glazier — $63,310
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $61,660
- Sheet Metal Worker — $61,270
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining — $61,040
- Carpenter — $60,800
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $60,670
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $59,070