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The differences between traffic control specialists and traffic control technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a traffic control specialist and a traffic control technician. Additionally, a traffic control specialist has an average salary of $42,315, which is higher than the $40,714 average annual salary of a traffic control technician.
The top three skills for a traffic control specialist include air traffic control, airspace and AWP. The most important skills for a traffic control technician are DOT, safety regulations, and traffic cones.
| Traffic Control Specialist | Traffic Control Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,315 | $40,714 |
| Hourly rate | $20.34 | $19.57 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 34,959 | 58,811 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A traffic control specialist is in charge of managing and overseeing traffic conditions during roadworks, ensuring the safety of motorists and the smooth workflow of construction. Their responsibilities typically revolve around devising strategies to direct traffic, participating in installing and removing traffic control equipment such as barricades and cones, assisting motorists by providing alternative routes, and removing any road obstructions as needed. Moreover, as a traffic control specialist, it is essential to implement all the safety regulations and policies, maintaining a safe and productive work environment for everyone.
The job of a Traffic Control Technician is to make sure construction projects are not disturbed or hindered by pedestrians and motorists. As a construction laborer with extensive training in fabrication, repair, and installation of traffic control signs and devices, your key role is to install barricades and markers to control traffic passing nearby and in work zones. Your job is to direct pedestrians and vehicular traffic to another route to ensure the safety of workers in the construction zone and the safety of those passing.
Traffic control specialists and traffic control technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Traffic Control Specialist | Traffic Control Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,315 | $40,714 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $70,000 | Between $27,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | Richmond, VA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Washington |
| Best paying company | Serco | City of San Diego |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a traffic control specialist and a traffic control technician in terms of educational background:
| Traffic Control Specialist | Traffic Control Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Business |
| Most common college | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between traffic control specialists' and traffic control technicians' demographics:
| Traffic Control Specialist | Traffic Control Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% | Male, 84.2% Female, 15.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 5.7% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 5.5% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |