How To Become A Traffic Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a traffic operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

A traffic operator is primarily responsible for the coordination of logistics and shipments. While doing this, they oversee payment and credit negotiation within the traffic management department. When you become a traffic operator, you will be responsible for carrying out physical freight shipments.

You will also help run vehicles daily to ensure prompt delivery to customers. A traffic operator is like an authority under authority. You will work under the traffic manager, while you will also have drivers working under you. These drivers will report to you, and you have to direct their activities within the organization.

You need to possess a high school diploma or GED before you can be a traffic operator. Not just this, but you won't be able to be successful in this position without communication skills, as you need them to report and direct. A strong education in finance or mathematics also is ideal for employment. You will earn an average of $36,077 per year or $17 per hour as a traffic operator.

ScoreTraffic OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $36,610

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.42%

Asian 6.16%

Black or African American 11.35%

Hispanic or Latino 18.84%

Unknown 4.31%

White 58.93%

Gender

female 39.82%

male 60.18%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.3

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a traffic operator

Explore traffic operator education requirements

Most common traffic operator degrees

Bachelor's

52.4 %

Associate

23.4 %

High School Diploma

13.7 %

Start to develop specific traffic operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Patrol	15.02%
Traffic Management	9.67%
CCTV	6.66%
Incident Management	6.30%
DOT	6.24%

Complete relevant traffic operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New traffic operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a traffic operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real traffic operator resumes.

Research traffic operator duties and responsibilities

Manage busy company switchboard, operating PBX or private branch exchange systems to facilitate connections.
Dispatch safety service patrol along the interstate to assist with disable vehicles, accidents, or any lane closures.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Train and recruit transportation personnel ensuring compliance with numerous transportation and DoD regulations.

Prepare your traffic operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your traffic operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a traffic operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable traffic operator resume templates

Build a professional traffic operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your traffic operator resume.