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Traffic Technician

Life As 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.

What Do Traffic Technicians Do On a Daily Basis?

  • Lay out pavement markings for striping crews.
  • Study traffic delays by noting times of delays, the numbers of vehicles affected, and vehicle speed through the delay area.
  • Develop plans or long-range strategies for providing adequate parking space.
  • Gather and compile data from hand count sheets, machine count tapes, or radar speed checks and code data for computer input.
  • Measure and record the speed of vehicular traffic, using electrical timing devices or radar equipment.
  • Review traffic control or barricade plans to issue permits for parades or other special events or for construction work that affects rights of way, providing assistance with plan preparation or revision, as necessary.

Things a Traffic Technician Should Know How to Do

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.

Other Traffic Technician Job Titles

  • Traffic Engineering Technician
  • Traffic Signal Technician (TST)
  • Traffic Investigator
  • Traffic Monitor Specialist
  • Street Light Technician

Job Demand for Traffic Technicians

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 6,600 jobs in the United States for Traffic Technician. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 800 job openings in this field each year.

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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.

What is the Average Salary of a Traffic Technician

The average yearly salary of a Traffic Technician ranges between $29,750 and $79,070.

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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

Tools & Technologies Used by Traffic Technicians

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

Becoming a Traffic Technician

What education or degrees do I need to become a Traffic Technician?

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What work experience do I need to become a Traffic Technician?

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Career changers with experience as a Traffic Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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