What You Need to Know About Traffic Technicians
Occupation Description Conduct field studies to determine traffic volume, speed, effectiveness of signals, adequacy of lighting, and other factors influencing traffic conditions, under direction of traffic engineer.
Life as a Traffic Technician: What Do They Do?
- Compute time settings for traffic signals or speed restrictions, using standard formulas.
- Interact with the public to answer traffic-related questions, respond to complaints or requests, or discuss traffic control ordinances, plans, policies, or procedures.
- Provide traffic information, such as road conditions, to the public.
- Study traffic delays by noting times of delays, the numbers of vehicles affected, and vehicle speed through the delay area.
- 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.
- Analyze data related to traffic flow, accident rates, or proposed development to determine the most efficient methods to expedite traffic flow.
Traffic Technician Skills
When polled, Traffic Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles
- Highway Traffic Control Technician
- Transportation Planning Technician
- Traffic Monitor Specialist
- Sign Technician
- Field Traffic Investigator
What Kind of Traffic Technician Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 6,600 jobs for Traffic Technicians in 2016.
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.1% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 600 new jobs for Traffic Technicians by 2026. The BLS estimates 800 yearly job openings in this field per year.
The states with the most job growth for Traffic Technicians are New York, Texas, and Florida.
Watch out if you plan on working in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, or New Jersey. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Traffic Technician Make?
Traffic Technicians Make between $29,750 and $79,070 a year. A Traffic Technician median salary is $46,570.
How much do Traffic Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
Oregon |
$70,500 |
|
Nevada |
$69,320 |
|
Washington |
$63,560 |
|
New York |
$62,100 |
|
California |
$61,750 |
|
Illinois |
$56,940 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$56,240 |
|
Hawaii |
$55,020 |
|
New Jersey |
$52,130 |
|
Ohio |
$51,270 |
|
Virginia |
$51,260 |
|
Wisconsin |
$50,380 |
|
Arizona |
$49,730 |
|
Massachusetts |
$49,030 |
|
Kansas |
$48,860 |
|
Utah |
$47,170 |
|
Texas |
$46,110 |
|
Wyoming |
$45,870 |
|
Missouri |
$45,820 |
|
Iowa |
$44,960 |
|
South Carolina |
$43,630 |
|
Tennessee |
$42,730 |
|
Maryland |
$42,550 |
|
Michigan |
$42,420 |
|
Florida |
$41,970 |
|
North Carolina |
$41,310 |
|
Arkansas |
$41,200 |
|
Louisiana |
$40,830 |
|
Oklahoma |
$40,350 |
|
Georgia |
$39,520 |
|
Kentucky |
$37,720 |
|
New Mexico |
$37,560 |
What Tools do Traffic Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Traffic Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Microsoft Excel
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Word
- Trafficware SimTraffic
How to Become a Traffic Technician
Are there Traffic Technician education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Traffic Technician?
Where do Traffic Technicians Work?
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those who work as Traffic Technicians sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Energy Auditors
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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