A highway technician works directly with a team of civil engineers on the construction of highways. The construction of a new highway or the modification of an existing highway can be complicated and depending on the magnitude of the project can take a significant amount of planning. According to www.bls.gov highway technicians may work in any of the following realms drawing preparation land surveying studying traffic conditions estimating costs determining what materials should be used and more. Highway technicians may have jobs that are focused on one specific piece of a construction project or they may work on several phases of a project. Highway technicians are normally involved in a project from start to finish and are trained to review blueprints for the project estimate project costs compile data related to a specific project oversee the work of contractors hired to complete specific tasks and report the status of the construction to the project manager or supervisor. The website www.citytowninfo.com states that highway technicians must have excellent communications skills because they are always required to work as part of a team. A highway technician is never an isolated job and those who do not like to work with others may have not be successful in this profession. While it may be possible to find a job as a highway technician with only a high school diploma most employers require a minimum of an associate’s degree from a school that has been accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Board for Engineering and Technology (“ABET”). Careers.stateuniversity.com lists the median salary for a highway technician at $38480 per year.
|Education Required:||Associate's Degree|
|Tasks:||Oversees the construction of highways.
Conducts research related to traffic flow.
Reviews project blueprints.
Evaluates the effort of contracted workers.
|Also Called:||Civil Engineering Technician
Highway Engineering Assistant
Civil Engineering Assistant
Highway Engineering Specialist