Traffic Technician Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Traffic Technicians — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$59,090
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$28.41
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$85,130
entry level starts ~$39,090
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 8,000 employed

How much does a Traffic Technician make?

A Traffic Technician earns a median annual salary of $59,090 in the United States, which works out to roughly $28.41 per hour for full-time work. Most Traffic Technicians earn between $39,090 at the entry level and $85,130 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $46,440 and $75,850 a year.

That is $2,300 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Traffic Technician salary range by percentile

Half of all Traffic Technicians earn between $46,440 and $75,850 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$39,090$18.79
25th percentile (early career)$46,440$22.33
50th percentile (median)$59,090$28.41
75th percentile (experienced)$75,850$36.47
90th percentile (top earners)$85,130$40.93

Highest-paying states for Traffic Technician

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Traffic Technician pay at $79,110 a year, followed by Minnesota ($77,810) and Washington ($71,960). At the other end, Michigan posts the lowest median at $37,890 — a gap of $41,220 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$79,110$38.03+34%
2Minnesota$77,810$37.41+32%
3Washington$71,960$34.60+22%
4New York$71,670$34.46+21%
5Indiana$71,000$34.13+20%

Workforce and education

About 8,000 people work as Traffic Technicians in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $62,050 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Traffic Technician make in the United States?
The median Traffic Technician salary in the United States is $59,090 per year, or about $28.41 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $39,090, while the top 10% of earners make $85,130 or more.
How does Traffic Technician pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Traffic Technician median of $59,090 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Traffic Technicians the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Traffic Technicians, with a median salary of $79,110 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Traffic Technician?
Becoming a Traffic Technician typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Traffic Technicians work in the United States?
About 8,000 people were employed as Traffic Technicians in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other transportation roles with similar pay.

Taxi Driver

$42,100
median pay · 41,000 employed

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

$59,050
median pay · 159,000 employed

Machine Feeders and Offbearers

$41,220
median pay · 42,000 employed

Light Truck Driver

$44,860
median pay · 983,000 employed

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor

$58,170
median pay · 10,000 employed

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

$35,830
median pay · 380,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.