Traffic Technician salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Traffic Technicians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $84,650 a year ($40.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,370 for the top 10%. That is 43% higher than the national median of $59,090. Pay here is 7% higher than the California statewide median of $79,110. There are 0.34 traffic technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $74,620, close to the median.
Pay range for traffic technicians in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,780 | $28.26 |
| 25th percentile | $58,780 | $28.26 |
| Median | $84,650 | $40.70 |
| 75th percentile | $84,650 | $40.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,370 | $44.41 |
| Average (mean) | $74,620 | $35.88 |
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 | $7,054.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,527.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,255.77 |
| Weekly | $1,627.88 |
| Hourly | $40.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Traffic Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $92,710 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $85,100 | 230 |
| 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 |
See Traffic Technician pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $39,670 | $19.07 |
| Passenger Attendant | $37,970 | $18.26 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,560 | $20.46 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,910 | $26.88 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $42,740 | $20.55 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $42,730 | $20.55 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $60,420 | $29.05 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $40,570 | $19.50 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for traffic technicians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $84,650 a year, or $40.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid traffic technicians make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of traffic technicians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $92,370 a year. The top 25% earn $84,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for traffic technicians in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,780 a year, and a quarter of traffic technicians earn $58,780 or less.
How many traffic technicians work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 70 traffic technicians are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.