Traffic Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$59,090
United States, 2025
Employment
7,860
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 53-6041.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Typical 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$39,090
25th percentile
$46,440
75th percentile
$75,850
90th percentile
$85,130
Most important skills
- Active Listening3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Speaking3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Writing3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Management of Personnel Resources3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 15 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
15
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.6 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.3 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $74,090
Compare with Traffic TechniciansSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with Traffic TechniciansSupplemental
National median $92,460
Compare with Traffic TechniciansSupplemental
National median $107,230
Compare with Traffic TechniciansHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $92,710 | 190 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $85,100 | 230 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $84,650 | 70 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $81,910 | 750 | 2025 |
| CA | $79,110 | 1,250 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $78,640 | 400 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $78,180 | 30 | 2025 |
| MN | $77,810 | 60 | 2025 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $77,540 | — | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | $75,420 | — | 2025 |
| WA | $71,960 | 70 | 2025 |
| NY | $71,670 | 950 | 2025 |
| IN | $71,000 | 120 | 2025 |
| IL | $70,970 | 40 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $70,100 | 300 | 2025 |
| IA | $68,100 | 30 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $67,450 | 50 | 2025 |
| Albany, NY | $67,010 | 130 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $66,040 | 30 | 2025 |
| PA | $65,610 | 60 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Traffic Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.