Highway Maintenance Specialist - Salida

Department Information

Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. If you have a Colorado Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License and are passionate about safety, travel, and hands‑on repair and improvements, consider turning your passions into a career as a Highway Maintenance Specialist in Salida, CO.

Total annual compensation for this position is $59,400 ($53,400 base pay and $6,000 housing stipend). Base pay is $2,053.85 biweekly ($53,400 annually). The location is eligible for an additional $500/month housing stipend. Annualized hourly rate is $25.67, with overtime at $38.50.

CDOT employees make a difference by providing freedom, connection, and experience to the traveling public while keeping them safe. The State of Colorado offers medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, PERA retirement, optional 401K, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and professional development. Perks include Colorado Employee Assistance Program counseling, wellness, credit union membership, and employee discount program.

Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

CDOT’s strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience, creating a workplace where everyone, regardless of identity, has the opportunity to thrive.

• Plow snow
• Operate heavy equipment such as tandem dump truck, loader, tractor mower
• Mow grass and weeds
• Remove debris from roadways, culverts, and tunnels
• Shovel gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt
• Dig ditches
• Install and repair guardrail, highway markers, signs, warning signs, and lighting
• Fill potholes and roadway cracks
• Set out signs and cones for traffic control
• Remove and cover graffiti
• Install pavement markings/striping
• Stop or slow traffic in emergency situations
• Maintain equipment and perform minor repairs
• Follow safety guidance and wear proper safety equipment

Your work is critical to keeping Colorado’s roadways open and safe, positively impacting the quality of life for Coloradans and visitors and helping the economy thrive.

• Personal protective equipment (uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vest, respirator, tools)
• Full payment for your CDL physical after the first year with CDOT
• Partial reimbursement (up to 50%) for CDL renewal after the first year
• CPR and first-aid training
• Variety of career training opportunities
• 40‑hour work weeks, with opportunity for overtime during weather emergencies
• 4‑day work schedule (10‑hour days Monday‑Thursday) during May‑September
• Opportunities to learn new equipment
• Opportunities for advancement

• Exposure to loud noise
• Exposure to fumes, odors, gases, dusts affecting breathing, eyes, skin
• Required to use appropriate personal protective equipment
• Required to work with chemicals and cleaning products
• Some equipment requires respirators
• Work near traffic, sometimes high‑speed traffic
• Use ladders and scissor lifts for heights approximately 10‑20 feet
• Required to drive CDOT vehicles
• Frequently respond to emergencies outside regular work hours; may work overtime including weekends and holidays
• Must be willing and physically able to work in extreme temperatures, variable weather, and elevations up to 12,000 feet for long periods

Must have at least two (2) years of physical labor and/or heavy equipment operation experience.

• Strong commitment to working safely
• Desire to learn
• Wants to work outdoors
• Loves physically demanding work
• Takes pride in a job well done
• Adapts efficiently to changing conditions and priorities
• Works effectively in a team and looks out for teammates
• Communicates effectively, especially in safety‑critical situations
• Strong commitment to providing good customer service
• Loves solving problems and figuring out better ways
• Experience operating equipment such as single and tandem axle dump trucks, front‑end loaders, bulldozers, backhoes
• Experience using hand tools
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn new software/equipment
• Years of State service experience related…