All About Traffic Technicians
Job Description & Duties 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.
Daily Life Of a Traffic Technician
- Place and secure automatic counters, using power tools, and retrieve counters after counting periods end.
- Establish procedures for street closures or for repair or construction projects.
- Maintain or make minor adjustments or field repairs to equipment used in surveys, including the replacement of parts on traffic data gathering devices.
- Provide traffic information, such as road conditions, to the public.
- Operate counters and record data to assess the volume, type, and movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic at specified times.
- Study traffic delays by noting times of delays, the numbers of vehicles affected, and vehicle speed through the delay area.
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Traffic Technician Needed Skills
These are the skills Traffic Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
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:
- Sign Technician
- Traffic Control Specialist
- Transportation Technician
- Traffic Analyst
- Survey Field Technician
What Kind of Traffic Technician Job Opportunities Are There?
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.
What is the Average Salary of a Traffic Technician
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.
How much do Traffic Technicians make 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
How do I Become a Traffic Technician?
What education is needed to be a Traffic Technician?

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

Where Traffic Technicians Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Related Careers
Are you already one of the many Traffic Technician in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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