Traffic Technician salary in the U.S.
Traffic Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $59,090 a year ($28.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,860 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,130 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $62,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for traffic technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,090 | $18.79 |
| 25th percentile | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Median | $59,090 | $28.41 |
| 75th percentile | $75,850 | $36.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,130 | $40.93 |
| Average (mean) | $62,050 | $29.83 |
Half of traffic technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,924.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,462.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,272.69 |
| Weekly | $1,136.35 |
| Hourly | $28.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Traffic Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $79,110 | 1,250 |
| Minnesota | $77,810 | 60 |
| Washington | $71,960 | 70 |
| New York | $71,670 | 950 |
| Indiana | $71,000 | 120 |
| Illinois | $70,970 | 40 |
| Iowa | $68,100 | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,610 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $64,240 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $63,780 | 90 |
| Virginia | $62,270 | 90 |
| Utah | $61,970 | 30 |
| Ohio | $61,460 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $61,380 | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $60,750 | 90 |
| Maryland | $60,650 | 140 |
| Arizona | $59,980 | 310 |
| Wisconsin | $58,940 | 40 |
| Idaho | $57,180 | 70 |
| South Carolina | $57,080 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $56,800 | 110 |
| Missouri | $56,720 | 220 |
| West Virginia | $53,400 | 70 |
| Nevada | $53,100 | 190 |
| Alabama | $52,060 | 130 |
| Florida | $51,220 | 710 |
| Connecticut | $50,400 | n/a |
| Wyoming | $50,120 | 30 |
| Arkansas | $49,550 | 50 |
| New Mexico | $49,280 | 80 |
| Texas | $48,770 | 650 |
| Georgia | $48,110 | 220 |
| Kansas | $47,100 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $44,970 | 460 |
| Louisiana | $42,710 | 130 |
| Michigan | $37,890 | 100 |
Best-paying metro areas for traffic technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $92,710 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $85,100 | 230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $84,650 | 70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $81,910 | 750 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,640 | 400 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $78,180 | 30 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $77,540 | n/a |
| Columbus, OH | $75,420 | n/a |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $70,100 | 300 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $67,450 | 50 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $67,010 | 130 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $66,040 | 30 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $65,190 | 170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $63,230 | 90 |
| Boise City, ID | $62,710 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most traffic technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 750 | $81,910 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 400 | $78,640 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 300 | $70,100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 230 | $85,100 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 210 | $62,300 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 190 | $92,710 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 170 | $57,130 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 170 | $65,190 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 150 | $56,470 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 140 | $50,300 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 130 | $67,010 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 120 | $51,000 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 110 | $44,690 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 100 | $51,510 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 100 | $58,820 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Aircraft Service Attendant | $40,450 | $19.45 |
| Passenger Attendant | $37,720 | $18.14 |
| Transportation Inspector | $92,100 | $44.28 |
| Transportation Workers, All Other | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| Bridge and Lock Tenders | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-6041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a traffic technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for traffic technicians in the U.S. is $59,090 a year, or $28.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid traffic technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of traffic technicians in the U.S. earn at least $85,130 a year. The top 25% earn $75,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for traffic technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,090 a year, and a quarter of traffic technicians earn $46,440 or less.
How many traffic technicians work in the U.S.?
About 7,860 traffic technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.