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The average salary for a traffic engineer in the United States is $87,079 annually, or about $42 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on several factors, including geographic location and years of experience. For instance, traffic engineers in states like California and New York typically earn higher than the national average due to demand and cost of living considerations.
In addition to state differences, experience level plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level traffic engineers may start around $60,000, while seasoned professionals can command salaries well above $100,000. Understanding these dynamics is essential for job seekers in this field. Explore resources available to help gauge salary expectations based on specific job roles and regions.
Traffic engineering positions are available in various sectors, including government agencies, private firms, and consulting companies. Pursuing certifications and advanced degrees can enhance job prospects and salary potential. By leveraging available resources, professionals can navigate their career paths effectively, ensuring they are well-prepared for the opportunities that arise.
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The average traffic engineer salary in California, Washington, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average traffic engineer salary states are Iowa, South Carolina, and Ohio.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $123,689 | $59.47 |
| 2 | Oregon | $98,071 | $47.15 |
| 3 | Washington | $99,787 | $47.97 |
| 4 | Nevada | $97,411 | $46.83 |
| 5 | Virginia | $94,372 | $45.37 |
| 6 | Colorado | $90,572 | $43.54 |
| 7 | Texas | $86,543 | $41.61 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $89,925 | $43.23 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $90,580 | $43.55 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $90,612 | $43.56 |
| 11 | Vermont | $86,332 | $41.51 |
| 12 | New York | $91,966 | $44.21 |
| 13 | Arizona | $84,809 | $40.77 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $82,061 | $39.45 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $87,067 | $41.86 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $91,259 | $43.87 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $85,486 | $41.10 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $84,159 | $40.46 |
| 19 | Utah | $82,333 | $39.58 |
| 20 | Alaska | $84,053 | $40.41 |
| 21 | Idaho | $83,007 | $39.91 |
| 22 | Montana | $81,126 | $39.00 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $81,934 | $39.39 |
| 24 | Delaware | $82,305 | $39.57 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $83,270 | $40.03 |
| 26 | Kansas | $82,713 | $39.77 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $81,123 | $39.00 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $81,203 | $39.04 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $80,550 | $38.73 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $81,149 | $39.01 |
| 31 | Alabama | $78,284 | $37.64 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $82,550 | $39.69 |
| 33 | Illinois | $81,673 | $39.27 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $80,961 | $38.92 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $76,818 | $36.93 |
| 36 | Maryland | $79,923 | $38.42 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $80,737 | $38.82 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $75,389 | $36.24 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $79,868 | $38.40 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $78,188 | $37.59 |
| 41 | Florida | $74,704 | $35.92 |
| 42 | Indiana | $75,243 | $36.17 |
| 43 | Georgia | $74,024 | $35.59 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $75,834 | $36.46 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $57,308 | $27.55 |
| 46 | Maine | $71,399 | $34.33 |
| 47 | Michigan | $71,467 | $34.36 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $73,356 | $35.27 |
| 49 | Ohio | $72,793 | $35.00 |
| 50 | Iowa | $73,640 | $35.40 |
| 51 | Missouri | $73,896 | $35.53 |
The highest-paying cities for traffic engineers are Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,001 | $58.17 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $100,455 | $48.30 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $96,957 | $46.61 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $96,704 | $46.49 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $94,881 | $45.62 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $92,260 | $44.36 |
| 7 | Littleton, CO | $90,638 | $43.58 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $90,595 | $43.56 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $90,388 | $43.46 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $87,010 | $41.83 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $85,506 | $41.11 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,159 | $40.94 |
| 13 | Lincoln, NE | $81,949 | $39.40 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $81,933 | $39.39 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $81,437 | $39.15 |
| 16 | Tallahassee, FL | $80,853 | $38.87 |
| 17 | Baltimore, MD | $80,117 | $38.52 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh, PA | $79,603 | $38.27 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,201 | $37.60 |
| 20 | Birmingham, AL | $77,792 | $37.40 |
A traffic engineer's salary ranges from $54,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $138,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $138,000 | $11,500 | $66 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Average | $87,079 | $7,257 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 10th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
The highest paying types of traffic engineers are engineer, office engineer, and site engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structures Engineer | $73,391 | $6,116 | $35.28 | 20,778 |
| Civil Engineer | $70,950 | $5,912 | $34.11 | 26,803 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Transportation Engineer | $68,945 | $5,745 | $33.15 | 20,388 |
| Site Engineer | $75,719 | $6,310 | $36.40 | 42,333 |
| Office Engineer | $89,581 | $7,465 | $43.07 | 59,644 |
Top companies hiring traffic engineers now:
Traffic engineer salaries at Apple and Square are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average traffic engineer salary at companies like Roblox and Cloudflare are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $149,204 | $71.73 |
| 2 | Square | $128,185 | $61.63 |
| 3 | Roblox | $126,507 | $60.82 |
| 4 | Cloudflare | $126,433 | $60.79 |
| 5 | Amazon | $120,091 | $57.74 |
| 6 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $111,648 | $53.68 |
| 7 | Traffic | $107,832 | $51.84 |
| 8 | Parsons | $101,496 | $48.80 |
| 9 | CTS Corporation | $97,002 | $46.64 |
| 10 | Oxford Solutions | $93,120 | $44.77 |
| 11 | WGI | $92,453 | $44.45 |
| 12 | Precision Systems Inc | $91,753 | $44.11 |
| 13 | Whitman | $91,693 | $44.08 |
| 14 | CWC Logistics | $91,231 | $43.86 |
| 15 | URS E&C Holdings Inc | $91,196 | $43.84 |
| 16 | Wilson & McCall | $91,196 | $43.84 |
| 17 | P B Holdings | $91,196 | $43.84 |
| 18 | Amec Foster Wheeler | $91,196 | $43.84 |
| 19 | LVI Holding Corporation | $91,196 | $43.84 |
| 20 | Colorado State Express | $91,196 | $43.84 |
The average traffic engineer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail | $91,726 | $44.10 |
| 2 | Technology | $81,892 | $39.37 |
| 3 | Professional | $76,218 | $36.64 |
| 4 | Government | $74,214 | $35.68 |
The average traffic engineer salary has risen by $10,402 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average traffic engineer earned $76,677 annually, but today, they earn $87,079 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for traffic engineers over the last decade.
Compare traffic engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare traffic engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $87,100 | $41.86 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $85,600 | $41.15 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $85,200 | $40.95 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $83,300 | $40.07 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $82,100 | $39.49 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta | Senior Traffic Engineer | Rhode Island | 06/30/2025 | $97,000 |
| Beta | Traffic Engineer | New Hampshire | 06/30/2025 | $88,000 |
| Actalent | Assistant Traffic Engineer | Albany, NY | 06/29/2025 | $75,132 |
| Dasstateoh | Transportation Engineer District Traffic Engineer | Enon, OH | 06/29/2025 | $78,325 |
| Lochner | Senior Traffic Engineer | Monterey Park, CA | 06/28/2025 | $165,000 |
| Beta | Senior Traffic Engineer | Noank, CT | 06/28/2025 | $97,000 |
| Michael Baker | Civil Engineer, Traffic Engineering | Carlsbad, CA | 06/27/2025 | $100,000 |
| Olsson | Project Traffic Engineer | Irvine, CA | 06/27/2025 | $117,000 |
| Olsson | Project Traffic Engineer | Denver, CO | 06/27/2025 | $117,000 |
| Olsson | Project Traffic Engineer | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/27/2025 | $117,000 |
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