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Traffic control specialist salary
Average traffic control specialist salary
$42,315
Traffic Control Specialist Salary Overview
The average Traffic Control Specialist salary in the United States is approximately $42,315 annually, equating to about $20 per hour. Salaries can fluctuate based on various factors including geographic location, years of experience, and specific employer. States such as California and New York often provide higher compensation due to their cost of living and demand for skilled specialists.
Salary by State
Traffic Control Specialists can expect different salaries depending on the state they work in. For instance, those in metropolitan areas may earn more than their counterparts in rural regions.
Job Opportunities
Job opportunities in this field are varied, ranging from positions in construction to municipal traffic management. Candidates can enhance their earning potential by obtaining relevant certifications or gaining experience in specialized traffic control systems.
Future Trends
The demand for Traffic Control Specialists is expected to grow as urban areas expand and infrastructure projects increase. This trend suggests a stable career path with opportunities for advancement.
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Where can a Traffic Control Specialist earn more?
Traffic control specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average traffic control specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for traffic control specialists are Maine, Alaska, and North Dakota. The lowest average traffic control specialist salary states are Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for traffic control specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $55,813 | $26.83 |
| 2 | Virginia | $50,898 | $24.47 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $47,118 | $22.65 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $54,356 | $26.13 |
| 5 | California | $48,648 | $23.39 |
| 6 | Ohio | $45,991 | $22.11 |
| 7 | Maine | $57,520 | $27.65 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $45,717 | $21.98 |
| 9 | Texas | $42,474 | $20.42 |
| 10 | South Carolina | $41,055 | $19.74 |
| 11 | Michigan | $41,222 | $19.82 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $41,214 | $19.81 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $42,650 | $20.50 |
| 14 | Delaware | $40,377 | $19.41 |
| 15 | Arizona | $41,139 | $19.78 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $40,924 | $19.68 |
| 17 | Alabama | $39,057 | $18.78 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $42,978 | $20.66 |
| 19 | New York | $43,276 | $20.81 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $40,843 | $19.64 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $43,271 | $20.80 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $42,572 | $20.47 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $38,022 | $18.28 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $41,963 | $20.17 |
| 25 | Nevada | $38,073 | $18.30 |
| 26 | Indiana | $38,656 | $18.58 |
| 27 | Missouri | $41,304 | $19.86 |
| 28 | Georgia | $36,754 | $17.67 |
| 29 | Montana | $40,405 | $19.43 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $40,635 | $19.54 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $36,246 | $17.43 |
| 32 | Iowa | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $39,046 | $18.77 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $34,909 | $16.78 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $35,555 | $17.09 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $32,921 | $15.83 |
| 37 | Washington | $38,098 | $18.32 |
| 38 | Colorado | $35,935 | $17.28 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $36,694 | $17.64 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $36,754 | $17.67 |
| 42 | Maryland | $35,071 | $16.86 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $37,069 | $17.82 |
| 44 | Utah | $33,184 | $15.95 |
| 45 | Illinois | $36,172 | $17.39 |
| 46 | Florida | $31,406 | $15.10 |
| 47 | Vermont | $34,044 | $16.37 |
| 48 | Kansas | $33,261 | $15.99 |
| 49 | Oregon | $34,515 | $16.59 |
| 50 | Idaho | $32,110 | $15.44 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $30,054 | $14.45 |
Highest paying cities for traffic control specialists
The highest-paying cities for traffic control specialists are Fairbanks, AK, Salinas, CA, and Philadelphia, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks, AK | $54,403 | $26.16 |
| 2 | Salinas, CA | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,654 | $22.91 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $42,941 | $20.64 |
| 5 | Buffalo, NY | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,126 | $19.77 |
| 7 | Ann Arbor, MI | $40,969 | $19.70 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $39,012 | $18.76 |
| 9 | Bellingham, WA | $38,941 | $18.72 |
| 10 | Henderson, NV | $38,680 | $18.60 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $36,892 | $17.74 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $36,866 | $17.72 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $36,364 | $17.48 |
| 14 | Medford, OR | $36,035 | $17.32 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $35,932 | $17.27 |
| 16 | Cheyenne, WY | $32,905 | $15.82 |
| 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | $32,870 | $15.80 |
| 18 | Lewiston, ID | $32,255 | $15.51 |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $31,510 | $15.15 |
Traffic control specialist salary details
A traffic control specialist's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a traffic control specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $42,315 | $3,526 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying traffic control specialist jobs
The highest paying types of traffic control specialists are control specialist, traffic analyst, and specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation Technician | $37,073 | $3,089 | $17.82 | 32,224 |
| Traffic Signal Technician | $45,817 | $3,818 | $22.03 | 8,006 |
| Traffic Analyst | $62,962 | $5,247 | $30.27 | 11,504 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $49,141 | $4,095 | $23.63 | 17,944 |
| Traffic Controller | $39,099 | $3,258 | $18.80 | 17,859 |
| Traffic Control Technician | $40,714 | $3,393 | $19.57 | 58,811 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for traffic control specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Rowan University
Top companies hiring traffic control specialists now:
Which companies pay traffic control specialists the most?
Traffic control specialist salaries at Serco and U.S. Department of Transportation are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average traffic control specialist salary at companies like The Walsh Group and Leidos are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serco | $58,692 | $28.22 |
| 2 | U.S. Department of Transportation | $53,015 | $25.49 |
| 3 | The Walsh Group | $52,488 | $25.23 |
| 4 | Leidos | $50,968 | $24.50 |
| 5 | Walsh Electric | $45,907 | $22.07 |
| 6 | Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC | $44,836 | $21.56 |
| 7 | WarnerMedia | $44,825 | $21.55 |
| 8 | Army National Guard | $44,602 | $21.44 |
| 9 | Air National Guard | $44,396 | $21.34 |
| 10 | Serco | $44,358 | $21.33 |
| 11 | Federal Aviation Administration | $44,358 | $21.33 |
| 12 | State of North Dakota | $44,239 | $21.27 |
| 13 | Ruby Receptionists | $44,143 | $21.22 |
| 14 | JT3 | $44,133 | $21.22 |
| 15 | Warner Bros. | $43,766 | $21.04 |
| 16 | Yaamava' Resort & Casino | $42,424 | $20.40 |
| 17 | Gray Television | $42,287 | $20.33 |
| 18 | Spectrum | $42,179 | $20.28 |
| 19 | Middlesex School | $41,979 | $20.18 |
| 20 | Oldcastle Infrastructure | $40,324 | $19.39 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Traffic control specialist salary trends
The average traffic control specialist salary has risen by $4,869 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average traffic control specialist earned $37,446 annually, but today, they earn $42,315 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for traffic control specialists over the last decade.
Compare traffic control specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average traffic control specialist salary over time
Compare traffic control specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Traffic control specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,300 | $20.34 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | $42,000 | $20.21 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $41,200 | $19.82 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $40,400 | $19.44 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $40,000 | $19.22 | +2.7% |
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