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Trail Maintenance Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Additional duties may also include fence, pasture and trail maintenance as needed. The incumbent will also be expected to provide general assistance and support for the department, leadership, and ...

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Trail Maintenance information

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$12

$31

$56

How much do trail maintenance jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for trail maintenance in the United States is $31.57, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.08 and $38.22 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by trail maintenance workers, and how can they be addressed on the job?

Trail maintenance workers often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather conditions, difficult terrain, and the need to work with limited resources. Addressing these challenges involves thorough preparation, proper use of safety equipment, and effective teamwork. Workers regularly collaborate with park staff, volunteers, and environmental professionals to ensure trails remain safe and accessible while minimizing environmental impact. Strong communication and adaptability are key to overcoming obstacles and achieving project goals.

What is trail maintenance?

Trail maintenance refers to the ongoing work required to keep hiking, biking, and multi-use trails safe, accessible, and environmentally sustainable. This can include clearing debris, repairing erosion, managing vegetation, maintaining signage, and ensuring proper drainage. Trail maintenance is essential for protecting natural resources, preventing trail damage, and enhancing the experience for all trail users. It is often carried out by park staff, volunteers, or specialized trail crews.

What is the difference between Trail Maintenance vs Trail Construction?

AspectTrail MaintenanceTrail Construction
CertificationsOften requires basic outdoor safety and equipment operation certificationsMay require additional certifications in heavy machinery or construction safety
Work EnvironmentMaintains existing trails in parks, forests, and outdoor recreation areasBuilds new trails in similar outdoor settings
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly employed by parks, conservation agencies, and outdoor recreation organizationsEmployed by construction firms, parks departments, and environmental agencies

Trail Maintenance focuses on preserving and repairing existing trails to ensure safety and sustainability, while Trail Construction involves designing and building new trails from scratch. Both roles require outdoor skills and certifications but differ mainly in scope and objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Trail Maintenance, and why are they important?

To thrive in Trail Maintenance, you need a solid understanding of trail construction, repair techniques, and basic environmental stewardship, often supported by experience or relevant training in outdoor work. Familiarity with hand tools, power equipment, GPS devices, and safety protocols is typically required. Physical stamina, attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities ensure trails are safely maintained, environmentally sustainable, and enjoyable for public use.

What Are Trail Maintenance Jobs?

Trail maintenance jobs are available with the U.S. Forest Service, state recreation organizations, and conservation groups, with titles like maintenance worker, recreation crew member, and trail builder. In these jobs, you restore hiking trails and paths by removing overgrown plants, pruning trees, and repairing damage caused by wildlife. Your responsibilities revolve around creating safe, enjoyable access to recreational sites, and to achieve this, you build steps and observation decks, clean up fallen brush, remove invasive species, and work with a team to promote conservation efforts. To perform your duties, you use hand tools, chainsaws, shovels, and axes while working outdoors, often in extreme weather.

What cities are hiring for Trail Maintenance jobs? Cities with the most Trail Maintenance job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Trail Maintenance jobs? The most popular types of Trail Maintenance jobs are:
What states have the most Trail Maintenance jobs? States with the most job openings for Trail Maintenance jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Trail Maintenance jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Trail Maintenance jobs are:
Infographic showing various Trail Maintenance job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,662 per year, or $31.6 per hour.
Operator - Right of Way & Trail Maintenance

Operator - Right of Way & Trail Maintenance

Harris County

Houston, TX

$26K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago


Harris County rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 118 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

308th of 673 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

Position Description About the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis There are four precincts in Harris County. The four elected commissioners, along with an elected county judge, serve as members of Harris County Commissioners Court, the administrative head of the county's government. Commissioner Rodney Ellis represents the constituents of Precinct One.

With approximately 1.17 million residents, Harris County Precinct One is a diverse, urban precinct that covers 363 square miles. Precinct One's multi-racial, multi-ethnic population is roughly 33 percent African American, 38 percent Latino, 21 percent Anglo, 6 percent Asian and 2 percent other or multiple races.Precinct One stretches south to Brazoria County and reaches into eastern and northern sections of Harris County. The Precinct's territory includes a large section of Downtown Houston, including the Downtown Harris County Courthouse Complex, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park and the BBVA Compass Stadium

Other notable landmarks include the 263-acre NRG Park Complex and the renowned Texas Medical Center. The Precinct is also the higher educational home to Houston Community College, Rice University, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston and the University of St. Thomas.

Precinct One manages more than 21 parks, 10 community centers, numerous hike-and-bike trails, three maintenance service centers and several area offices, all of which provide an array of services to Precinct One residents. The Mission of the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis: Commissioner Rodney Ellis' Office is committed to becoming a national model for delivering responsive public service that utilizes inclusive, innovative, and collaborative approaches to improve the quality of life, advance equality of opportunity, and promote the fair treatment of all people in Harris County. Key Areas of focus for our organization include, but are not limited to: Advancing more effective, fair and equitable criminal justice system.

Furthering economic justice, equity, and opportunity for all Harris County residents, especially those often and historically left behind by government programs. Ensuring equitable outcomes in health and access to quality, affordable healthcare Fighting for environmental and climate justice that keeps all communities safe and healthy. Equitably investing in developing and maintaining resilient infrastructure and transportation for the 21st century Building and defending voting rights and a democracy that ensures equitable representation.

Progressing equity and social and racial justice as common threads through all areas of public policy and public service. What you will do at Precinct One Harris County- Commissioner Precinct One has an opportunity for an Operator II in our Right of Way and Trail Maintenance area. The selected candidate/s will offer a responsive service to Precinct One constituents by maintaining right of ways and assigned trails.

You will assist team members in the prioritizing and completion of all assigned projects and proposed projects. Essential Duties and Responsibilities In addition, the successful candidate/s will maintain a thorough understanding of how to safely use equipment including commercial mowers, weed trimmers, shovels, and rakes. The role is responsible for cleaning ditches and culverts of brush, trimming branches, and bushes, picking up trash on roadways and right-of-ways, and hiking and bike trails.

You will keep areas free of litter, heavy trash, and other debris. Inspect equipment, and vehicles daily, and make referrals to Fleet Management when necessary. Comply with safety protocols and precinct policies and procedures.

Complete safety training and professional development initiatives. Report all accidents/injuries to your manager and complete the proper paperwork. Other duties as assigned.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate

Requirements What you will bring to Precinct One Education: High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent Experience: Operator II - Three (3) years of experience in a similar environment Operator III - Five (5) years of experience in a similar environment Operator IV - Seven (7) years of experience in a similar environment Licensure: Commercial Driver's License Class A or B (State of Texas) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of how to use and repair mowing equipment. Skilled in the safe efficient operation of commercial mower equipment and weed trimmers, shovels, rakes, and other maintenance equipment

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

General Information Position Type: Full-time | Regular Days and hours may vary depending on the assigned shift. Required to be available to respond to emergencies. Work Environment and Physical Demands: This job operates in an outdoor environment.

Exposure to various and extreme weather conditions, temperature variations, loud noises, and possibly dangerous chemicals may be encountered. This job operates in an outdoor environment. Exposure to various and extreme weather conditions, temperature variations, loud noises, and possibly dangerous chemicals may be encountered.

What you get in return You will be surrounded by coworkers who bring their best to work each day. Passionate people who want to make a difference in the communities Precinct One serves along with Harris County as a whole. Harris County employees receive a competitive salary plus medical, dental, and vision insurance at no cost to the employee after the first two months of full-time continued employment.

Vacation, sick time, and floating holidays allow our employees to recharge and balance work and personal time. Mandatory participation in our retirement program allows employees to save for retirement. Various other benefits and discounts lead to the satisfaction and engagement of our employees.

About Precinct One There are four precincts in Harris County. The four elected commissioners, along with an elected county judge, serve as members of Harris County Commissioners Court, the administrative head of the county's government. With approximately 1.1 million residents, Harris County Precinct One is a diverse, urban precinct that covers 363 square miles

Precinct One's multi-racial, multi-ethnic population is roughly 39 percent African American, 37 percent Latino, 18 percent Anglo, 5 percent Asian and 1 percent other. Precinct One, which includes 991 miles of road, stretches south to Brazoria County and reaches into eastern and northern sections of Harris County. The Precinct's territory includes a large section of Downtown Houston, including the Downtown Harris County Courthouse Complex, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park and the BBVA Compass Stadium.

Other notable landmarks include the 263-acre NRG Park Complex, the renowned Texas Medical Center, Rice University, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston's main and downtown campuses and the University of St. Thomas. Precinct One is home to more than 20 county parks, 11 community centers, numerous hike-and-bike trails, three maintenance service centers and several area offices, all of which provide an array of services to Precinct One residents.

Featured Benefits: Harris County employees receive a competitive salary plus medical, dental, and vision insurance at no cost to the employee after the first two months of full-time continuous employment. Vacation, sick time, and floating holidays allow our employees to recharge and balance work and personal time. Mandatory participation in our retirement program will enable employees to save for retirement.

Various other benefits and discounts lead to the satisfaction and engagement of our employees. How to apply If this job sounds interesting, you meet the required qualifications and you can see yourself working for Precinct One, we invite you to apply at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.


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About Harris County

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Harris County is the third largest county in the United States with more than 4.7 million residents. There are four precincts in Harris County. The four elected commissioners, along with an elected county judge, serve as members of the Harris County Commissioners Court, the administrative head of the county's government.

Industry

Public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Houston, TX, US

Year founded

2000

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