# Traffic Technicians

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/traffic-technicians
- SOC code: 53-6041.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $59,090 (10th percentile $39,090, 90th percentile $85,130)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.0%
- Openings a year: 900
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 65 |
| Investigative (I) | 56 |
| Artistic (A) | 7 |
| Social (S) | 16 |
| Enterprising (E) | 16 |
| Conventional (C) | 58 |

## What you'd do

- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 90/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 89/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 83/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 83/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 82/100)
- Processing Information (importance 82/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 81/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 79/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 79/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Monitoring, Writing, Active Learning, Coordination

## Knowledge

Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Transportation, English Language, Engineering and Technology, Law and Government, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, Education and Training

## Also called

Field Traffic Investigator, Highway Traffic Control Technician (Highway Traffic Control Tech), Permit Technician (Permit Tech), Street Light Technician (Street Light Tech), Traffic Control Technician (Traffic Control Tech), Traffic Field Investigator, Traffic Investigator, Traffic Management Specialist, Traffic Monitor Specialist, Traffic Signal Technician (TST)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Public Administration](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4404) (CIP 4404, 482 colleges)
- [Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1502) (CIP 1502, 160 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Barry University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/barry-university-183) | Public Administration | $76,893 | $97,702 | $37,255 |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Public Administration | $61,347 | $89,732 | $21,500 |
| [Murray State University-Kentucky](https://www.collegesref.com/college/murray-state-university-kentucky-1807) | Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $63,903 | $87,573 | $21,500 |
| [Metropolitan State University of Denver](https://www.collegesref.com/college/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver-1667) | Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $64,859 | $86,131 | not reported |
| [California State University-Northridge CSUN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-northridge-csun-374) | Public Administration | $84,412 | $85,789 | $34,173 |
| [Rochester Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rochester-institute-of-technology-2250) | Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $71,108 | $83,553 | $27,000 |
| [Youngstown State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/youngstown-state-university-3362) | Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $65,353 | $78,450 | not reported |
| [Indiana University-Bloomington Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indiana-university-bloomington-main-campus-1277) | Public Administration | $52,286 | $77,422 | $15,750 |

## Related careers

- [Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/civil-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $64,950 median pay
- [Construction and Building Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/construction-and-building-inspectors): $74,690 median pay
- [Air Traffic Controllers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/air-traffic-controllers): $148,080 median pay
- [Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-conductors-and-yardmasters): $78,000 median pay
- [Highway Maintenance Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/highway-maintenance-workers): $50,260 median pay
- [Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-vehicle-equipment-and-systems-inspectors-except-aviation): $92,100 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.