How to become a Road Traffic Controller

Directs road traffic and pedestrian flows on, near, or adjacent to roads during road closures or part road closures due to construction, maintenance, roadside works, public events or emergency responses.

Main tasks

• Sets up, manages and removes temporary traffic control schemes and signs
• Directs vehicular and pedestrian traffic around construction zones, accidents or other road disruptions
• Uses a stop-slow sign and manages other similar traffic control signs and devices to direct traffic and ensure the safety of workers, motorists and pedestrians
• Communicates with other road traffic personnel, construction workers and emergency response teams via radio to provide and receive updates on traffic conditions
• Completes site checks and monitors traffic behaviour and/or flow to ensure safety is maintained at all times
• Takes instructions from crew leaders, foremen, managers, inspectors, auditors or officials

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Traffic Control Room Operations (TLI40521)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $80,236 a year
• About 68,600 people work in this job group now, and about 71,500 are projected by 2035. (+4.2%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Road Traffic Controller?

Ways in include: Certificate IV in Traffic Control Room Operations.

How much does a Road Traffic Controller earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $80,236 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Road Traffic Controller a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 68,600 to about 71,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Road Traffic Controller?

Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate IV in Traffic Control Room Operations.

Will AI change the work of a Road Traffic Controller?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04