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The differences between traffic control specialists and traffic controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a traffic control specialist has an average salary of $42,315, which is higher than the $39,099 average annual salary of a traffic controller.
The top three skills for a traffic control specialist include air traffic control, airspace and AWP. The most important skills for a traffic controller are construction sites, DOT, and safety regulations.
| Traffic Control Specialist | Traffic Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $42,315 | $39,099 |
| Hourly rate | $20.34 | $18.80 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 34,959 | 17,859 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 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 primary role of a traffic controller is to direct the flow of machinery and vehicles on roads and any other work sites. Traffic controllers coordinate, setup, manage, and remove traffic control. They direct traffic in disruption areas like accidents, planned maintenance, building sites, and roadworks. They have to direct pedestrians for safety maintenance around road conditions and changed vehicles. They need to be keen on directing traffic flow.
Traffic control specialists and traffic controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Traffic Control Specialist | Traffic Controller | |
| Average salary | $42,315 | $39,099 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $70,000 | Between $24,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Serco | Siemens |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a traffic control specialist and a traffic controller in terms of educational background:
| Traffic Control Specialist | Traffic Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Business |
| Most common college | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between traffic control specialists' and traffic controllers' demographics:
| Traffic Control Specialist | Traffic Controller | |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% |
| 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, 8.0% Unknown, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 5.4% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |