Highway Maintenance Worker (Sign & Striping Crew w/Winter Maintenance)

South Dakota State Government; Pierre (SD); On-site; USD 31,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Well-being program

Dental and Vision

Health savings account

Paid leave (15 vacation days per year)

Sick leave (14 days per year)

11 paid holidays

Longevity pay

Semimonthly pay periods

Job summary

The South Dakota Department of Transportation is seeking a Highway Maintenance Worker to join a crew responsible for installing and maintaining pavement markings and signage to keep state highways safe and drivable. The role includes operating and maintaining a variety of equipment, performing inspections, and assisting in winter maintenance.

From May to September, work is 10-hour days, four days a week; October to April, eight-hour days, Monday through Friday, with night and weekend shifts

Qualifications

• Experience with highway equipment or construction is preferred.
• Basic math for measurements and materials.

Responsibilities

• Install pavement markings to guide and ensure safety.
• Sweep roadways and bridges; inspect and maintain trucks and equipment.
• Perform winter maintenance to ensure public mobility and safety.
• Report to work in inclement weather and emergencies as required.

Skills

basic math

hand and power tools

equipment operation

drive manual transmission

Tools

heavy equipment operation

Job description

Job ID: 38144 Agency: Department of Transportation / Division of Operations Location: Aberdeen Salary: $22.74 - $24.25 per hour, depending on experience Pay Grade: GG Closing Date: 11/10/2026

This is a full-time position with the Department of Transportation. For more information on the Department of Transportation, please visit https://dot.sd.gov/ .

The position of a Highway Maintenance Worker is responsible to work as part of a crew to install and maintain pavement markings and/or signage to ensure the State highways are kept safe and drivable for the traveling public at all times.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, installing pavement markings to provide direction and safety for users of the State highway system; sweeping roadways and bridges; performing inspections and calibrating, maintaining, and repairing trucks and equipment within established scheduled maintenance requirements to extend the life of the equipment; maintaining and repairing department facilities and properties to provide functionality and aesthetics; performing annual inventory counts and comparing results to Inventory Report for Warehouse form to ensure inventory is accurately accounted for; providing temporary traffic control through and around temporary emergency/hazardous sites and non-sign/striping related work zones (e.g., contractor, special events, etc.); and performing winter maintenance to allow public mobility and provide safety for users of the State highway system.

From approximately May 1 to September 30, the anticipated work schedule for this position is 10‑hour days, 4 days per week, from Monday through Thursday each week. From approximately October 1 — April 30, the anticipated work schedule for this position is eight‑hour days, Monday through Friday. Night and shift work will be required, including working weekend hours and holidays during emergencies and inclement weather.

Work assignments are frequently performed outside in all weather conditions and around highway traffic.

Incumbent must have a valid driver's license and be able to obtain a Class A commercial driver's license (CDL) with no transmission restrictions and a N: Tank Vehicles endorsement within 120 days of hire date to retain employment. Employee will be subject to pre‑employment, random, reasonable‑suspicion, post‑accident, follow up, and return‑to‑duty drug and alcohol testing.

According to SDCL 32‑12A, applicants will be required to authorize the Department of Transportation to obtain a complete driving record. Applicants living outside of South Dakota may be asked to provide a motor vehicle record from their state of residence.

Incumbent must be willing and able to report to work for inclement weather conditions and other highway emergencies; and must be able to report to their home station within 30 minutes, under normal driving conditions, from the time of notification.

Incumbent is eligible to receive $5.00 per hour winter maintenance premium pay when responding to and performing winter maintenance duties during a weekend and/or holiday.

What the SDDOT Offers:

• Health insurance (low and high deductible plans which include a $0 premium employee-only coverage plan)
• Well‑being program
• Employee assistance program
• Dental and Vision
• Health savings account
• Free basic life insurance policy
• Membership in the South Dakota Retirement System with partial state match
• Paid leave (15 vacation days per year)
• Sick leave (14 days per year)
• Paid family leave (12 weeks for birth and adoption of child, equivalent to 40 hours per week)
• Military leave (15 days per year)
• 11 paid holidays
• Longevity pay
• Semimonthly pay periods
• Eligibility for meal per diems

The total compensation of Hourly Wage + State/Federal Benefits for a typical year for entry level Highway Maintenance Worker is approximately $67,003.00 annually.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

Experience in the operation of highway equipment and/or experience in construction is preferred.

Knowledge of:

• preventive maintenance methods such as changing oil, rotating tires, and lubricating parts (desirable but not required);
• principles of pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical systems (desirable but not required);
• basic computer operation (desirable but not required).

Skill to:

• perform basic mathematical computations to make precise measurements and determine rate of materials;
• use and maintain a variety of hand and power tools;
• operate, maintain, and repair various equipment and attachments (desirable but not required);
• operate skid loader, front‑end loader, telehandler and forklift;
• drive and operate a manual transmission.

Ability to:

• display high standards of ethical conduct;
• treat customers courteously and be responsive to their needs;
• work cooperatively with others and promote a friendly work climate in order to achieve shared goals;
• display a high level of effort and commitment towards completing assignments and goals;
• attend to all details of assignments and complete work properly, accurately, and thoroughly;
• lift 35 pounds routinely, up to 60 pounds occasionally (without assistance), and 90 or more pounds infrequently (with assistance);
• routinely reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Join the South Dakota Department of Transportation! View more about this opportunity here: https://youtu.be/4Bwxxkb3oZo .

This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

'An Equal Opportunity Employer'