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Flagging & Traffic Control

What Flagging & Traffic Control Majors Need to Know

Programs in Flagging & Traffic Control develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Flagging & Traffic Control graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Flagging & Traffic Control emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Public Safety and Security — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Transportation — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Building and Construction — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Flagging & Traffic Control program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Operation and Control — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Coordination — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 2.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Flagging & Traffic Control careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Control Precision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Multilimb Coordination — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Flagging & Traffic Control graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.4 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.3 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.2 / 7
Getting Information	4.2 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	4.0 / 7
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment	4.0 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	4.0 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	3.9 / 7
Developing and Building Teams	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Flagging & Traffic Control professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Spreadsheet software	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Flagging & Traffic Control graduates include:

• Traffic Controller
• Transportation Maintenance Operator
• Road Patcher
• Road Oiler
• Highway Technician Associate
• Transportation Maintenance Specialist (TMS)
• Transportation Worker
• Construction Flagger
• Maintenance Aide
• Maintenance Technician
• Traffic Flagger
• Snow Plow Operator
• Flagger
• Transportation Technician
• Oil Spreader Operator

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Flagging & Traffic Control graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	88.3%
Less than a high school diploma	5.2%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	5.1%
Postsecondary certificate	1.4%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

How Much Do Flagging & Traffic Control Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Flagging & Traffic Control graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$43,832
4 years	$42,430
5 years	$45,687

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $45,687 — roughly 4% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Flagging & Traffic Control Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Flagging & Traffic Control graduates earn a median of $42,430 four years after completion — roughly 12% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Ground Transportation	22,968
Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor	21,399
Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation	1,131
Forklift Operation/Operator	197
Ground Transportation, Other	163
Railroad and Railway Transportation	78
Mobil Crane Operator/Operation	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.