Traffic technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,090 | $18.79 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $59,090 | $28.41 |
| Mean (average) | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| 90th percentile | $85,130 | $40.93 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Traffic technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 36 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $52,060 | $35,290 | $65,740 | 130 | 1.25 |
| Arizona | $59,980 | $38,010 | $89,400 | 310 | 1.88 |
| Arkansas | $49,550 | $37,820 | $73,910 | 50 | 0.74 |
| California | $79,110 | $52,990 | $97,080 | 1,250 | 1.36 |
| Connecticut | $50,400 | $37,680 | $79,950 | ||
| Florida | $51,220 | $36,670 | $77,700 | 710 | 1.42 |
| Georgia | $48,110 | $37,910 | $76,610 | 220 | 0.89 |
| Idaho | $57,180 | $45,700 | $80,050 | 70 | 1.71 |
| Illinois | $70,970 | $37,010 | $96,150 | 40 | 0.12 |
| Indiana | $71,000 | $43,990 | $85,140 | 120 | 0.72 |
| Iowa | $68,100 | $36,070 | $89,590 | 30 | 0.39 |
| Kansas | $47,100 | $37,870 | $64,170 | 160 | 2.25 |
| Louisiana | $42,710 | $35,720 | $55,320 | 130 | 1.37 |
| Maryland | $60,650 | $48,500 | $92,900 | 140 | 1.04 |
| Massachusetts | $63,780 | $44,730 | $116,500 | 90 | 0.5 |
| Michigan | $37,890 | $33,180 | $77,980 | 100 | 0.45 |
| Minnesota | $77,810 | $62,240 | $84,880 | 60 | 0.4 |
| Missouri | $56,720 | $45,940 | $76,210 | 220 | 1.46 |
| Nebraska | $61,380 | $35,580 | $77,780 | 40 | 0.86 |
| Nevada | $53,100 | $39,480 | $101,280 | 190 | 2.44 |
| New Jersey | $64,240 | $48,020 | $87,660 | 110 | 0.51 |
| New Mexico | $49,280 | $39,610 | $58,610 | 80 | 1.82 |
| New York | $71,670 | $46,000 | $105,720 | 950 | 1.94 |
| North Carolina | $56,800 | $45,640 | $80,530 | 110 | 0.43 |
| Ohio | $61,460 | $34,670 | $77,520 | 210 | 0.74 |
| Oklahoma | $60,750 | $41,840 | $79,640 | 90 | 1.03 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,610 | $49,300 | $78,580 | 60 | 0.2 |
| South Carolina | $57,080 | $41,050 | $74,680 | 150 | 1.31 |
| Tennessee | $44,970 | $43,480 | $62,140 | 460 | 2.76 |
| Texas | $48,770 | $37,930 | $69,710 | 650 | 0.92 |
| Utah | $61,970 | $41,590 | $81,740 | 30 | 0.36 |
| Virginia | $62,270 | $46,500 | $82,460 | 90 | 0.45 |
| Washington | $71,960 | $60,990 | $103,260 | 70 | 0.39 |
| West Virginia | $53,400 | $43,560 | $56,560 | 70 | 1.89 |
| Wisconsin | $58,940 | $51,400 | $76,100 | 40 | 0.29 |
| Wyoming | $50,120 | $37,980 | $65,200 | 30 | 2.47 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for traffic technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for traffic technicians
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians CIP 15.0201
- Transportation and Infrastructure Planning/Studies CIP 44.0403
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Study factors affecting traffic conditions, such as lighting or sign and marking visibility, to assess their effectiveness.
- Interact with the public to answer traffic-related questions, respond to complaints or requests, or discuss traffic control ordinances, plans, policies, or procedures.
- Prepare work orders for repair, maintenance, or changes in traffic systems.
- Plan, design, and improve components of traffic control systems to accommodate current or projected traffic and to increase usability and efficiency.
- Analyze data related to traffic flow, accident rates, or proposed development to determine the most efficient methods to expedite traffic flow.
- Visit development or work sites to determine projects' effect on traffic and the adequacy of traffic control and safety plans or to suggest traffic control measures.
- Operate counters and record data to assess the volume, type, and movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic at specified times.
- Measure and record the speed of vehicular traffic, using electrical timing devices or radar equipment.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Python (hot technology)
- R (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation.
Common job titles: Field Traffic Investigator, Traffic Control Technician (Traffic Control Tech), Traffic Field Investigator, Traffic Investigator, Traffic Monitor Specialist, Traffic Signal Technician (TST), Traffic Survey Technician (Traffic Survey Tech), Traffic Systems Technician (Traffic Systems Tech), Transportation Planning Technician (Transportation Planning Tech), Transportation Technician (Transportation Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do traffic technicians make?
The national median annual wage for traffic technicians was $59,090 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $85,130. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do traffic technicians need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is traffic technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of traffic technicians to change +4.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay traffic technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($79,110), Minnesota ($77,810), Washington ($71,960). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.