Transportation and material moving
Traffic technician
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.
Median pay
$59,090
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
900
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Traffic technician
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Traffic technician: 0% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: 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)
Outlook and AI
Traffic technicians held 8,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 8,400 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Traffic technician vs. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Traffic technician vs. Construction and building inspectors
- Traffic technician vs. Air traffic controller
- Traffic technician vs. Railroad conductors and yardmasters
- Traffic technician vs. Highway maintenance worker
- Traffic technician vs. Transportation inspector
- Traffic technician vs. Locomotive engineer
- Traffic technician vs. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Traffic technician vs. Power distributors and dispatchers