What is a Traffic Technician?
Traffic Technician Job 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.
Traffic Technician Responsibilities
- Study traffic delays by noting times of delays, the numbers of vehicles affected, and vehicle speed through the delay area.
- 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.
- Prepare drawings of proposed signal installations or other control devices, using drafting instruments or computer-automated drafting equipment.
- Provide technical supervision regarding traffic control devices to other traffic technicians or laborers.
- Study factors affecting traffic conditions, such as lighting or sign and marking visibility, to assess their effectiveness.
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What Every Traffic Technician Should Know
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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Transportation Planning Technician
- Survey Field Technician
- Traffic Technician
- Traffic Investigator
- Street Light Technician
Traffic Technician Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 6,600 jobs for Traffic Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 600 new jobs for Traffic Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 800 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Traffic Technician are North Dakota, Arkansas, and Kentucky. 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.
Traffic Technician Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a Traffic Technician ranges between $29,750 and $79,070.

Traffic Technicians who work in Oregon, Nevada, or New York, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Traffic Technicians in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Arizona | $49,730 |
Arkansas | $41,200 |
California | $61,750 |
Florida | $41,970 |
Georgia | $39,520 |
Hawaii | $55,020 |
Illinois | $56,940 |
Iowa | $44,960 |
Kansas | $48,860 |
Kentucky | $37,720 |
Louisiana | $40,830 |
Maryland | $42,550 |
Massachusetts | $49,030 |
Michigan | $42,420 |
Missouri | $45,820 |
Nevada | $69,320 |
New Jersey | $52,130 |
New Mexico | $37,560 |
New York | $62,100 |
North Carolina | $41,310 |
Ohio | $51,270 |
Oklahoma | $40,350 |
Oregon | $70,500 |
Pennsylvania | $56,240 |
South Carolina | $43,630 |
Tennessee | $42,730 |
Texas | $46,110 |
Utah | $47,170 |
Virginia | $51,260 |
Washington | $63,560 |
Wisconsin | $50,380 |
Wyoming | $45,870 |
What Tools & Technology do Traffic Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Traffic Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- R
- Oracle software
- Salesforce software
- Tableau
- Bentley Microstation
- ESRI ArcView
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- Structure query language SQL
How do I Become a Traffic Technician?
Are there Traffic Technicians education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Traffic Technicians Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Traffic Technicians employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Career changers with experience as a Traffic Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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