Highway Maintenance Apprentice - Greeley

Salary and Position

One position will be filled at either the LTC Trainee IV ($41,516.80 annually, $19.96/hr) or LTC Trainee V ($43,700.80 annually, $21.01/hr) level, depending on experience and CDL license status. No experience is required.

This position is only open to Colorado state residents.

CDOT’s Highway Maintenance Apprenticeship Program offers a two-year paid mentorship, classroom and hands‑on training designed to prepare apprentices for a meaningful career in public safety. Apprentices earn their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and the qualifications required for a Highway Maintenance Specialist position. Apprentices may be eligible for a pay increase after one year of apprenticeship and CDL licensure (if hired at LTC Trainee IV).

At the end of the apprenticeship, candidates are encouraged to apply for permanent positions as Highway Maintenance Specialists, with potential for further advancement.

This is a term‑limited position; employment cannot be guaranteed beyond two years, although apprentices are encouraged to apply for permanent employment at the end of the term. If a candidate has prior experience or a CDL, they may complete the program in less than two years. Apprentices are required to sign a waiver of retention rights.

• Plow snow
• Operate heavy equipment such as tandem dump trucks, loaders, tractor mowers, and more
• Mow grass and weeds
• Remove debris from roadways, culverts, tunnels, and other sites
• Shovel gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt
• Dig ditches
• Install and repair guardrails, 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 and striping
• Stop or slow traffic in emergency situations
• Maintain equipment and perform minor repairs
• Follow safety guidance and wear proper personal protective equipment

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

• Full benefits, PERA retirement, and paid leave
• Personal protective equipment (uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vests, respirators, and tools)
• No‑cost CDL Entry‑Level Driver Training and testing on CDOT equipment
• CDOT pays for the required CDL medical certificate evaluation
• Partial reimbursement (up to 50%) for CDL renewal after the first year with CDOT
• CPR and first‑aid training
• Various career training opportunities
• Guaranteed 40‑hour work weeks, with overtime during weather emergencies
• 4‑day work schedule (10‑hour days Monday‑Thursday) during the summer months (typically May‑September)
• Opportunities to learn new equipment and advance in a stable, long‑term career

• Exposure to loud noise
• Exposure to fumes, odors, gases, and dusts
• Use of personal protective equipment required
• Work with chemicals and cleaning products; respirator use may be required
• Work near traffic, sometimes high‑speed traffic
• Use of ladders and scissor lifts (10–20 foot reach)
• Drive CDOT vehicles
• Work on a rotating shift schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays
• Frequently respond to emergencies outside regular hours and may work overtime, including weekends and holidays
• Work in extreme temperatures (hot and cold) and variable weather, up to elevations of 12,000 feet

No prior education or experience is required.

• Demonstrated success with the duties listed above
• Highest work and personal ethics and integrity
• Strong commitment to working safely
• Desire to learn and work outdoors
• Enjoys physically demanding work and 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
• Provides good customer service
• Solves problems and seeks improvements
• Experience operating equipment such as single or tandem axle dump trucks, front‑end loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, etc.
• Experience using hand tools
• Basic computer skills and ability to…