How To Become A Traffic Control Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a traffic control specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Roads will be unsafe, uncoordinated, and generally chaotic without the work of traffic control specialists. A traffic control specialist is responsible for overseeing traffic conditions during roadworks to ensure the safety of both motorists and workers. Their duties include developing strategies to divert traffic more effectively, placing and removing traffic control equipment, and providing alternative routes to motorists.

A traffic control specialist may also be involved in removing roadblocks as needed. Furthermore, they help educate workers about proper traffic control, especially during rush hours, and strictly implement all relevant safety regulations and policies.

Common degrees for this role include aviation, business, and aerospace engineering. However, a bachelor's degree is not always required, as employers usually consider certificate and associate's degrees as well. Apart from education, an aspiring traffic control specialist needs to be knowledgeable in all traffic laws, best traffic safety practices, and roadwork standards.

The work of a traffic control specialist is crucial for everyone's safety. Hence, they earn an above-average salary of $61,000 per year.

ScoreTraffic Control SpecialistUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $42,315

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.8

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.65%

Asian 5.67%

Black or African American 11.11%

Hispanic or Latino 16.03%

Unknown 6.44%

White 58.11%

Gender

female 28.84%

male 71.16%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a traffic control specialist

Explore traffic control specialist education requirements

Most common traffic control specialist degrees

Bachelor's

38.3 %

High School Diploma

25.6 %

Associate

21.2 %

Start to develop specific traffic control specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Air Traffic Control	15.12%
Airspace	12.12%
AWP	11.62%
EN	10.54%
Federal Aviation Administration	7.33%

Complete relevant traffic control specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New traffic control specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a traffic control specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real traffic control specialist resumes.

Gain additional traffic control specialist certifications

Traffic control specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific traffic control specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for traffic control specialists include Flagger (Instructor) and Traffic Control Design Specialist (TCDS).

More About Certifications

Research traffic control specialist duties and responsibilities

Furnish key initiative in all parts of government and commercial contract/compliance and manage transportation, logistics and substance contracting exercises.
Obtain expertise in ICAO oceanic, terminal, and en-route aviation procedures
Apply knowledge from both FAA 7110.65 and ICAO regulations to effect service.
Qualify on all operating positions within the tower and CTO card holder.

Prepare your traffic control specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your traffic control specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a traffic control specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable traffic control specialist resume templates

Build a professional traffic control specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your traffic control specialist resume.