What does a traffic control specialist do?
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.
Traffic control specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real traffic control specialist resumes:
- 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.
- Increase efficiency of QA test cycles for new releases and hot fixes by maintaining and organizing internal QA test environments.
- Perform Haz-mat and firefighting drills quarterly.
- Create PowerPoint presentations & daily company reporting formate on excel.
- Coordinate and implement alongside physician documentation for patients' progress.
- Perform HVAC installation maintenance and trouble-shooting both on-site and remotely.
- Maintain situational awareness and alertness at all times when on position controlling aircraft.
- Assist patients in navigating programs and receiving information about events cater to them.
- Monitor and update ever-changing FAA regulatory and policy requirements affecting local and national ATC procedures.
- Collaborate extensively with U.S. military logistics units to ensure up-to-date processes, procedures, and authorizations for distribution of government property.
- Work closely with IAD ATCT and airlines to coordinate safe and efficient gate and non-movement area transitions.
Traffic control specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Traffic Control Specialists are proficient in Air Traffic Control, Airspace, and AWP. They’re also known for soft skills such as Alertness, Coordination, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Traffic Control Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Air Traffic Control, 15%
Conducted air traffic control operations within a Class D airspace utilizing intersecting runways totaling over 100 daily operations.
- Airspace, 12%
Maintained airspace boundaries and issued traffic alerts as necessary, providing mission coordination assistance, and disseminated weather information as required.
- AWP, 12%
Communicate with our partnersDrive AWP trucks to designationsPick up partners Slow down traffic and release trafficLine cones correctlyDirect traffic
- EN, 11%
Controlled and regulated flow of en route and terminal aircraft, including both military and civilian flights.
- Federal Aviation Administration, 7%
Transferred knowledge on Federal Aviation Administration requirements and laws.
- CTO, 6%
Conducted controller's certifications as FAA Control Tower Operator Examiner (CTO).
Common skills that a traffic control specialist uses to do their job include "air traffic control," "airspace," and "awp." You can find details on the most important traffic control specialist responsibilities below.
Communication skills. Another common skill required for traffic control specialist responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of traffic control specialists all the time, as "air traffic controllers must be able to give clear, concise instructions, listen carefully to pilots’ requests, and respond by speaking clearly in english." An excerpt from a real traffic control specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what a traffic control specialist does: "certified in cpr and first aid skills used communication and safety"
Math skills. Another skill commonly found on traffic control specialist job descriptions is "math skills." It can come up quite often in traffic control specialist duties, since "controllers must be able to do arithmetic accurately and quickly." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day traffic control specialist responsibilities: "maintained records and statistics, including tape recordings of voice radio communications of daily air traffic operations. "
The three companies that hire the most traffic control specialists are:
- Yaamava' Resort & Casino4 traffic control specialists jobs
- WarnerMedia
2 traffic control specialists jobs
- Warner Bros.2 traffic control specialists jobs
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Compare different traffic control specialists
Traffic control specialist vs. Engineering planning survey technician
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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a traffic control specialist are more likely to require skills like "air traffic control," "airspace," "awp," and "en." On the other hand, a job as an engineering planning survey technician requires skills like "autocad," "construction inspection," "osha," and "meeting timelines." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, engineering planning survey technicians reach higher levels of education than traffic control specialists. Engineering planning survey technicians are 8.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Traffic control specialist vs. Transportation technician
Each career also uses different skills, according to real traffic control specialist resumes. While traffic control specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "air traffic control," "airspace," "awp," and "en," transportation technicians use skills like "patients," "customer service," "cdl," and "traffic control."
Transportation technicians may earn a lower salary than traffic control specialists, but transportation technicians earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $35,283. On the other hand, traffic control specialists receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $55,835.transportation technicians earn similar levels of education than traffic control specialists in general. They're 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Traffic control specialist vs. Traffic systems technician
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from traffic control specialist resumes include skills like "air traffic control," "airspace," "awp," and "en," whereas a traffic systems technician is more likely to list skills in "cdl," "traffic signals," "safety procedures," and "electronic components. "
Most traffic systems technicians achieve a higher degree level compared to traffic control specialists. For example, they're 5.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Traffic control specialist vs. Traffic investigator
Types of traffic control specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
