Construction Managers
Median wage · national
$114,990
Range: $89K – $152K
Employed
380K
Openings/yr
50K
Typically: bachelor's degree
STEM
Traffic Technicians
Traffic Technicians earn $59,090 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $46,440 and $75,850. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Traffic Technicians
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a traffic technicians: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Public Administration and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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 Wage
- $59,090
- Employed Nationally
- 8K
- Openings / Year
- 900
- Entry Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Collection Technician
Field Traffic Investigator
Highway Traffic Control Technician
Pavement Engineer
Permit Technician
How Much Do Traffic Technicians Make?
Most traffic technicians take home around $59,090 a year, about what a typical college graduate makes. Half earn somewhere between $46,440 and $75,850, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$59,090
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$46K–$76K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$46,440
Entry-level
$59,090
Median
$75,850
Experienced
What Do Traffic Technicians Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 3 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Study traffic delays by noting times of delays, the numbers of vehicles affected, and vehicle speed through the delay area.
- Interact with the public to answer traffic-related questions, respond to complaints or requests, or discuss traffic control ordinances, plans, policies, or procedures.
- Prepare graphs, charts, diagrams, or other aids to illustrate observations or conclusions.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Judgment and Decision Making
Complex Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Where Do Traffic Technicians Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Traffic Technicians?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +4.0%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 900 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +4.0%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
900
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
8K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Traffic Technicians professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $59,090 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,250 | $79,110 | +33.9% |
| 2 | New York | 950 | $71,670 | +21.3% |
| 3 | Florida | 710 | $51,220 | -13.3% |
| 4 | Texas | 650 | $48,770 | -17.5% |
| 5 | Tennessee | 460 | $44,970 | -23.9% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a high school diploma or equivalent. The 2 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Administration | 15,867 | $65,093 | 496 |
| 2 | Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 1,199 | $76,549 | 158 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Traffic Technicians
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 3 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | 90 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| 4 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL | 90 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| 5 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | 90 | $11,297 | $61,675 |
| 6 | Florida International University Miami, FL | 90 | $9,288 | $60,249 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Traffic Technicians, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Traffic Technicians pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Traffic Technicians Pros & Cons
The data on Traffic Technicians shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $59,090 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.0% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Earnings and demand vary significantly by region National figures for Traffic Technicians mask real geographic variation. High-demand metros can pay 20% or more above the national median while lower-cost or rural markets often fall well short. Where you work matters nearly as much as your credentials.
Traffic Technicians Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Traffic Technicians professionals earn?
Around $59,090 a year for the typical worker, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,440 and $75,850. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Traffic Technicians a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $59,090 median, with +4.0% projected growth through 2035, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How do I become a Traffic Technicians?
Most Traffic Technicians positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Public Administration are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Traffic Technicians?
Employment is projected to change by +4.0% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 900 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 8K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Traffic Technicians professionals need?
Mainly Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and Speaking. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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