How to become a Traffic Technician

Official title: Traffic Technicians

Also called: Field Traffic Investigator, Traffic Control Technician (Traffic Control Tech), Traffic Field Investigator, Traffic Investigator, Traffic Monitor Specialist, Traffic Signal Technician (TST), Traffic Survey Technician (Traffic Survey Tech), Traffic Systems Technician (Traffic Systems Tech), Transportation Planning Technician (Transportation Planning Tech), Transportation Technician (Transportation Tech)

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.

Main 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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $59,090 a year The middle half earn $46,440 to $75,850.
• About 8,100 people work in this job now, and about 8,400 are projected by 2035. (+4%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Bridge and Lock Tenders
• Parking Attendants
• Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
• Aircraft Service Attendants
• Transportation Inspectors
• Aviation Inspectors

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Questions people ask

How much does a Traffic Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $59,090 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $46,440 to $75,850.

Is a Traffic Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 8,100 to about 8,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Traffic Technician?

Not always. 31% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Traffic Technician?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.