How much does a traffic signal technician make a year?

For Traffic Technicians, the median pay was $59,090 a year in May 2025, and the average was $62,050.

How much does a traffic technician make an hour?

The median was $28.41 an hour and the average was $29.83 an hour.

What education do you need to be a traffic technician?

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

Are traffic technician jobs growing?

BLS projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations.

Which state pays traffic technicians the most?

California had the highest median at $79,110. Minnesota was next at $77,810.

All careers › Traffic Technicians

Traffic signal technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$59,090median pay per year, or $28.41 an hour, May 2025^[1]

$39,090lowest 10% earn less
$46,44025th percentile
$59,090median
$75,85075th percentile
$85,130top 10% earn more

Middle half of workers in the inner band^[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980^[5]

Traffic technicians, a group that includes the traffic signal technician, had a median pay of $59,090 a year in May 2025^[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 4% over ten years, a little faster than the 3.5% for all occupations^[2]^[3].

Job growth, 2025–35: +4%^[2]
Openings per year: 900^[6]
Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent^[7]

How much do traffic signal technicians make?

The BLS category is Traffic Technicians, and traffic signal technician is one of the job titles in it^[8]. The median pay was $59,090 a year, or $28.41 an hour^[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $62,050 a year, or $29.83 an hour^[9]. The median for all occupations was $50,980^[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,090, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $46,440^[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $75,850, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $85,130^[4]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $18.79 and the 90th percentile was $40.93^[10]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary^[11].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and benefits such as health insurance^[12]. About 7,860 people held these jobs, so it is a small occupation^[13].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest state median at $79,110, then Minnesota at $77,810 and Washington at $71,960^[14]. Michigan was last on the list at $37,890^[14].

California also had the most jobs with 1,250^[15]. New York had 950, Florida 710, Texas 650 and Tennessee 460^[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median at $92,710^[16]. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA followed at $85,100, then New York-Newark-Jersey City at $81,910^[16]. The New York area had the most jobs with 750^[17].

Show median pay in 36 states

State	Median per year	Jobs
California^[14]	$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

How to become a traffic signal technician

BLS describes the typical path into this occupation like this:

First: finish high school or earn an equivalent diploma^[7].
Next: no work experience in a related occupation is typically needed^[7].
Then: expect moderate-term on-the-job training^[7].

In an O*NET survey of 32 workers, 43% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required^[18]. Another 23% said some college courses, 12% an associate's degree, 12% a bachelor's degree and 10% a post-secondary certificate^[18]. The survey is small, so treat it as a rough picture only.

What traffic technicians do

O*NET says these workers do field studies of traffic volume, speed and signal effectiveness, working under a traffic engineer^[19]. Common tasks include:

Studying lighting and sign visibility to judge how well they work^[20].
Answering questions and complaints from the public about traffic matters^[20].
Preparing work orders for repairs or changes to traffic systems^[20].
Helping plan and improve traffic control systems^[20].
Analyzing traffic flow and accident data^[20].
Visiting work sites to check traffic control and safety plans^[20].
Counting vehicles and pedestrians and recording the data^[20].
Measuring vehicle speeds with timing devices or radar^[20].

Other titles reported by workers include Traffic Control Technician, Traffic Survey Technician and Traffic Systems Technician^[8].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 8,100 to 8,400 jobs^[2]. All occupations together are projected to grow 3.5%^[3]. BLS expects about 900 openings a year^[6]. They include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs^[6]. Each year 4.7% of workers leave the labor force and 6.2% move to a different occupation^[21].

Is it a good fit?

Pay is above the all-occupations median, and the entry path asks for a high school diploma with moderate on-the-job training^[1]^[5]^[7]. Growth is slightly above the average for all occupations^[2]^[3]. The occupation is small, and California and New York have the most jobs^[13]^[15].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a traffic signal technician make a year?: For Traffic Technicians, the median pay was $59,090 a year in May 2025, and the average was $62,050^[1]^[9].
How much does a traffic technician make an hour?: The median was $28.41 an hour and the average was $29.83 an hour^[1]^[9].
What education do you need to be a traffic technician?: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training^[7].
Are traffic technician jobs growing?: BLS projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations^[2]^[3].
Which state pays traffic technicians the most?: California had the highest median at $79,110^[14]. Minnesota was next at $77,810^[14].

Facts and sources

BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Traffic Technicians in the US was $59,090 per year and $28.41 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS Employment Projections: employment of Traffic Technicians is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 8,100 to 8,400 jobs (a change of +300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Traffic Technicians: 10th percentile $39,090, 25th percentile $46,440, 75th percentile $75,850, 90th percentile $85,130. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS Employment Projections: about 900 openings for Traffic Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Traffic Technicians: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
O*NET 53-6041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: 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). O*NET OnLine
BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Traffic Technicians was $62,050 per year and $29.83 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Traffic Technicians: 10th percentile $18.79, 25th percentile $22.33, 75th percentile $36.47, 90th percentile $40.93. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 7,860 people were employed as Traffic Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
Median annual wage for Traffic Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Traffic Technicians jobs: California 1,250; New York 950; Florida 710; Texas 650; Tennessee 460. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Traffic Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $92,710; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $85,100; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $81,910; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $78,640; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $70,100; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $67,010; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $65,190; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $62,300. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Traffic Technicians jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 750 (median $81,910); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 400 (median $78,640); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 300 (median $70,100); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 230 (median $85,100); Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 210 (median $62,300); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 190 (median $92,710). BLS OEWS, May 2025
O*NET 53-6041.00 survey of workers (32 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 43%, Some College Courses 23%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 12%, Bachelor's Degree 12%, Post-Secondary Certificate 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
O*NET description of Traffic Technicians. O*NET OnLine
O*NET task list for Traffic Technicians. O*NET OnLine
BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Traffic Technicians: 4.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.