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The differences between traffic control specialists and transportation 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 transportation technician. Additionally, a traffic control specialist has an average salary of $42,315, which is higher than the $37,073 average annual salary of a transportation technician.
The top three skills for a traffic control specialist include air traffic control, airspace and AWP. The most important skills for a transportation technician are patients, customer service, and CPR.
| Traffic Control Specialist | Transportation Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,315 | $37,073 |
| Hourly rate | $20.34 | $17.82 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 34,959 | 32,224 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| 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.
A transportation technician is tasked to assist in all matters concerning transportation and delivery of products and items to intended destinations. The transportation technician provides the proper delivery and transport rates and methods on the best and most efficient delivery method. The transport technician must have ample information on various transportation methods, companies that provide transport service and ensure that all products or items delivered are kept safe from damages to establish trust and customer satisfaction.
Traffic control specialists and transportation technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Traffic Control Specialist | Transportation Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,315 | $37,073 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $70,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | Olympia, WA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Washington |
| Best paying company | Serco | RS&H |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a traffic control specialist and a transportation technician in terms of educational background:
| Traffic Control Specialist | Transportation Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| 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 transportation technicians' demographics:
| Traffic Control Specialist | Transportation Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% |
| 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, 11.0% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.4% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |