Traffic Technician salary in California
Traffic Technicians in California earn a median of $79,110 a year ($38.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,080 for the top 10%. That is 34% higher than the national median of $59,090. California ranks 1st of 36 states for traffic technicians pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.07 traffic technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $75,890, close to the median.
Pay range for traffic technicians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,990 | $25.48 |
| 25th percentile | $59,120 | $28.42 |
| Median | $79,110 | $38.03 |
| 75th percentile | $85,240 | $40.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,080 | $46.67 |
| Average (mean) | $75,890 | $36.49 |
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 | $6,592.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,296.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,042.69 |
| Weekly | $1,521.35 |
| Hourly | $38.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Traffic Technician salary in cities in California
| 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 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,640 | 400 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $77,540 | n/a |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $63,230 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for traffic technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $79,110 |
| Minnesota | $77,810 |
| Washington | $71,960 |
| New York | $71,670 |
| Indiana | $71,000 |
| Illinois | $70,970 |
| Iowa | $68,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,610 |
| New Jersey | $64,240 |
| Massachusetts | $63,780 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $41,770 | $20.08 |
| Passenger Attendant | $43,340 | $20.84 |
| Aircraft Service Attendant | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Transportation Workers, All Other | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| Transportation Inspector | $83,000 | $39.90 |
| Bridge and Lock Tenders | $72,390 | $34.80 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,550 | $31.51 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for traffic technicians in California is $79,110 a year, or $38.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid traffic technicians make in California?
The top 10% of traffic technicians in California earn at least $97,080 a year. The top 25% earn $85,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for traffic technicians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,990 a year, and a quarter of traffic technicians earn $59,120 or less.
How many traffic technicians work in California?
About 1,250 traffic technicians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.