There are hundreds of jobs available in the highway design and construction industry just waiting for you right now. Do you like working with steel or concrete? How about operating heavy machinery? Is geology and the environment something your interested in? Think about what you like to do and how you like to do it and we guarantee there is a job in highway construction out there that will satisfy your interests. The following is just a sampling of the types of jobs and salary you can expect to receive working in the highway design and construction industry.

Skilled Positions Available in Highway Construction

As you can see there are many different types of jobs out there. Jobs listed as apprenticeships provide you with advanced on-the-job training allowing you to improve your job skills and increase your salary while working. As an apprentice you will work beside and learn from some of the most highly skilled workers in the field.

A career in highway design and construction means you're in control of your own advancement to more skilled positions earning more money.

Skilled Positions and Jobs Descriptions

Concrete Paving Machine Operator
Operates concrete paving machine to spread and smooth freshly poured concrete surfaces for concrete roads and landing fields: Starts machine, engages clutch, and shifts gears to control machine's movement along rails on concrete forms. Moves levers and turns handwheels to lower attachment that spreads wet concrete within forms. Observes surface of concrete to point out low spots for workers to add concrete. Operates machine with attachments to successively vibrate, screed, strike-off (remove excess from), and float surface of concrete, to spray on curing compound, and cut expansion joints. When cutting expansion joints, places strips of material, such as cork, asphalt, or steel, in joints, or places roll of expansion-joint material on machine that automatically inserts material into joints.

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Excavation and Loading Machine Operators
Operate machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials. Operates power machinery, such as powered-shovel, stripping-shovel, scraper loader (mucking machine), or backhoe (trench-excavating machine) to excavate and load material. Observes hand signals, grade stakes, and other markings when operating machines. Receives written or oral instructions to move or excavate material. Measures and verifies levels of rock or gravel, base, and other excavated material. Lubricates and repairs machinery and replaces parts, such as gears, bearings, and bucket teeth. Directs ground workers engaged in activities, such as moving stakes or markers.

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Highway Maintenance Workers
Maintains highways, municipal and rural roads, and rights-of-way in safe condition, performing combination of following duties: Erects and repairs guardrails, highway markers, and snow fences, using hand tools and nails, and power tools. Dumps, spreads, and tamps asphalt, using pneumatic tamper to patch broken or eroded pavement. Drives truck to transport crew and equipment to work site. May drive snow-removal equipment, consisting of truck or tractor equipped with adjustable snowplow and blower unit. May drive tractor with mower attachment to cut grass around airfield runways.

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Crane and Tower Operators
Operates tower crane to lift and move building materials from ground storage areas and trucks to top of building under construction: Climbs ladder inside vertically mounted tower to gain access to control pad suspended under crane boom. Pushes or pulls levers on control console to rotate counter-balanced horizontally mounted boom to extend or retract trolley along boom, and to raise and lower hook to which loads are attached. Controls crane movement in response to hand signals or radio commands by supervisor or signaler. May operate crane from remote console on top of building. May operate radio-controlled crane.

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Road Roller Operator
Drives heavy rolling machine (road roller) to compact earth fills, subgrades, flexible base, and bituminous surface to grade specifications preparatory to construction of highways, streets, and runways: Moves levers, depresses pedals, turns handwheels, and pushes throttle to control and guide machine. Drives machine in successive overlapping passes over surface to be compacted. Determines speed and direction of machine, based on knowledge of compressibility of material under changing temperatures, so that ridges are not formed by excessive pressure. Pushes hand roller and pounds surfaces, using hand tamp, or guides portable power roller over areas not accessible to road roller.

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Airhammer/Jackhammer Operator
Use air hammer to break asphalt, concrete, stone, or other pavement; loosen earth, dig clay, or break rock, to trim bottom or sides of trenches or other excavations; drill holes in concrete; reduce size of large stones; or tamp earth in backfills. Inserts drill in chuck, trips trigger to start hammer, and leans on hammer to force drill into solid mass. Connects steam or compressed air and water lines to hammer. Changes drill or adds lengths as depth of hole increases. Replaces or sharpens bits. Lays steam, compressed air, or water pipelines used to power jackhammer. Lubricates hammer.

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Grader, Bulldozer, and Scraper Operators
Operate machines or vehicles equipped with blades to remove, distribute, level, or grade earth. Excludes paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators. Starts engine, moves throttle, switches, and levers, and depresses pedals to operate machines, equipment, and attachments. Drives equipment in successive passes over working area to achieve specified result, such as grade terrain or remove, dump, or spread earth and rock. Aligns machine, cutterhead, or depth gauge marker with reference stakes and guidelines on ground or positions equipment following hand signals of assistant. Fastens bulldozer blade or other attachment to tractor, using hitches. Connects hydraulic hoses, belts, mechanical linkage, or power takeoff shaft to tractor. Signals operator to guide movement of tractor-drawn machine. Greases, oils, and performs minor repairs on tractor, using grease gun, oilcans, and hand tools.

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Lane Marker Installer
Installs button-type lane markers along paved highways and streets, using hand tools: Sets signs and cones adjacent to work site to divert flow of traffic. Measures and marks installation locations between survey control points, using tape, string, and chalk. Blends epoxy compounds to form specified mix, using spoon. Applies epoxy to marked locations along roadway, using putty knife, and twists plastic markers to position into epoxy. Sights along button line to verify alignment.

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Truck Drivers, light, including delivery
Drives truck with capacity under 3 tons to transport materials in liquid or packaged form and personnel to and from specified destinations, such as railroad stations, plants, residences, offices, or within industrial yards: Verifies load against shipping papers. Drives truck to destination, applying knowledge of commercial driving regulations and roads in area. Prepares receipts for load picked up. Collects payment for goods delivered and for delivery charges. May maintain truck log according to state and federal regulations. May maintain telephone or radio contact with supervisor to receive delivery instructions. May drive truck equipped with public address system through city streets to broadcast announcements over system for advertising or publicity purposes. May load and unload truck. May inspect truck equipment and supplies, such as tires, lights, brakes, gas, oil, and water. May perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires, installing light bulbs, fuses, tire chains, and spark plugs.

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Brick Masons
Lays building materials, such as brick, structural tile, and concrete cinder, glass, gypsum, and terra cotta block (except stone) to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures: Measures distance from reference points and marks guidelines on working surface to lay out work. Spreads soft bed (layer) of mortar that serves as base and binder for block, using trowel. Applies mortar to end of block and positions block in mortar bed. Taps block with trowel to level, align, and embed in mortar, allowing specified thickness of joint. Removes excess mortar from face of block, using trowel. Finishes mortar between brick with pointing tool or trowel. Breaks bricks to fit spaces too small for whole brick, using edge of trowel or brick hammer. Determines vertical and horizontal alignment of courses, using plumb bob, gaugeline (tightly stretched cord), and level. Fastens brick or terra cotta veneer to face of structures, with tie wires embedded in mortar between bricks, or in anchor holes in veneer brick. May weld metal parts to steel structural members.

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Stone Mason
Sets stone to build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments, or lays walks, curbstones, or special types of masonry, such as alberene (acid-resistant soapstone for vats, tanks, and floors), using mason's tools: Shapes stone preparatory to setting, using chisel, hammer, and other shaping tools. Spreads mortar over stone and foundation with trowel and sets stone in place by hand or with aid of crane. Aligns stone with plumbline and finishes joints between stone with pointing trowel. May spread mortar along mortar guides to ensure joints of uniform thickness. May clean surface of finished wall to remove mortar, using muriatic acid and brush.

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Electrician
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Installs electrical wiring, equipment, apparatus, and fixtures, using hand tools and power tools. Maintains and repairs or replaces wiring, equipment and fixtures, using hand tools. Plans layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures consistent with specifications and local codes. Inspects systems and electrical parts to detect hazards, defects, and need for adjustments or repair. Tests electrical systems and continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures, using testing devices, such as ohmmeter, voltmeter, and oscilloscope. Diagnoses malfunctioning systems, apparatus, and components, using test equipment and hand tools. Readies and assembles electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures, using specifications and hand tools. Prepares sketches of location of wiring and equipment or follows blueprints to determine location of equipment and conformance to safety codes. Climbs ladder to install, maintain or repair electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures. Constructs and fabricates parts, using hand tools and specifications. Possesses electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations. Directs and trains workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Drives vehicle, operates flood lights, and places flares during power failure or emergency.

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Mechanics and Repair Helpers
Helps mechanics and repairers maintain and repair vehicles, industrial machinery, and electrical and electronic equipment. Furnishes tools, parts, equipment, and supplies to other workers. Cleans or lubricates vehicles, machinery, equipment, instruments, tools, work areas, and other objects, using hand tools, power tools, and cleaning equipment. Transfers equipment, tools, parts, and other objects to and from work stations and other areas, using hand tools, power tools, and moving equipment. Assembles and disassembles machinery, equipment, components, and other parts, using hand tools and power tools. Installs or replaces machinery, equipment, and new or replacement parts and instruments, using hand tools or power tools. Adjusts and connects or disconnects wiring, piping, tubing, and other parts, using hand tools or power tools. Applies protective materials to equipment, components, and parts to prevent defects and corrosion. Tends and observes equipment and machinery to verify efficient and safe operation. Positions vehicles, machinery, equipment, physical structures, and other objects, for assembly or installation, using hand tools, power tools, and moving equipment. Examines and tests machinery, equipment, components, and parts for defects and to ensure proper functioning. Builds or erects and maintains physical structures, using hand tools or power tools.

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Diesel Mechanic
Repairs and maintains diesel engines used to power machines, such as buses, ships, trucks, railroad trains, electric generators, and construction machinery, using handtools, precision measuring instruments, and machine tools: Diagnoses trouble, disassembles engines, and examines parts for defects and excessive wear. Reconditions and replaces parts, such as pistons, bearings, gears, valves, and bushings, using engine lathes, boring machines, handtools, and precision measuring instruments. May weld and cut parts, using arc-welding and flame cutting equipment.

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Carpenter
Builds rough wooden structures, such as concrete forms, scaffolds, tunnel and sewer supports, and temporary frame shelters, according to sketches, blueprints, or oral instructions: Examines specifications to determine dimensions of structure. Measures boards, timbers, or plywood, using square, measuring tape, and ruler, and marks cutting lines on materials, using pencil and scriber. Saws boards and plywood panels to required sizes. Nails cleats (braces) across boards to construct concrete-supporting forms. Braces forms in place with timbers, tie rods, and anchor bolts, for use in building concrete piers, footings, and walls. Erects chutes for pouring concrete. Cuts and assembles timbers to build trestles and cofferdams. When performing rough carpentry work above ground on sewer or tunnel projects, is designated Surface Carpenter (construction).

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Laborer and Material Mover Helper
Performs any combination of following tasks, such as erecting, repairing, and wrecking buildings and bridges; installing waterworks, locks, and dams; grading and maintaining railroad right-of-ways and laying ties and rails; and widening, deepening, and improving rivers, canals, and harbors, requiring little or no independent judgment: Digs, spreads, and levels dirt and gravel, using pick and shovel. Lifts, carries, and holds building materials, tools, and supplies. Cleans tools, equipment, materials, and work areas. Mixes, pours, and spreads concrete, asphalt, gravel, and other materials, using handtools. Joins, wraps, and seals sections of pipe. Performs variety of routine, nonmachine tasks, such as removing forms from set concrete, filling expansion joints with asphalt, placing culvert sections in trench, assembling sections of dredge pipeline, removing wallpaper, and laying railroad track. Many of these jobs are not full time; project size and organization of work determine whether workers spend their time on one job or transfer from task to task as project progresses to completion. Some workers habitually work in one branch of industry, whereas others transfer according to availability of work or on seasonal basis. Work is usually performed with other workers.

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Apprentice: Carpenter, Electrician, Mason
A worker who learns, according to written or oral contractual agreement, a recognized skilled craft or trade requiring one or more years of on-the-job training through job experience supplemented by related instruction, prior to being considered a qualified skilled worker. High school or vocational school education is often a prerequisite for entry into an apprenticeship program. Provisions of apprenticeship agreement regularly include length of apprenticeship; a progressive scale of wages; work processes to be taught; and amount of instruction in subjects related to the craft or trade, such as characteristics of materials used, physics, mathematics, estimating, and blueprint reading. Apprenticeability of a particular craft or trade is best evidenced by its acceptability for registration as a trade by a State Apprenticeship agency or the Federal Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. Generally, where employees are represented by a union, apprenticeship programs come under the guidance of joint apprenticeship committees composed of representatives of the employers or the employer association and representatives of the employees. These committees may determine need for apprentices in a locality and establish minimum apprenticeship standards of education, experience, and training. In instances where committees do not exist, apprenticeship agreement is made between apprentice and employer or an employer group.

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"It takes a team of highly skilled workers to design and build today's roads, highways, tunnels, and bridges."