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Traffic operator vs traffic manager

The differences between traffic operators and traffic managers 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 operator and a traffic manager. Additionally, a traffic manager has an average salary of $61,734, which is higher than the $36,610 average annual salary of a traffic operator.

The top three skills for a traffic operator include patrol, traffic management and CCTV. The most important skills for a traffic manager are project management, traffic management, and account executives.

Traffic operator vs traffic manager overview

Traffic OperatorTraffic Manager
Yearly salary$36,610$61,734
Hourly rate$17.60$29.68
Growth rate3%-3%
Number of jobs31,59214,997
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

What does a traffic operator do?

A Traffic Operator coordinates all logistic shipments and associated operations. You will be required to oversee all payments and credit negotiation demands within traffic management. For all that you will do, you'll be required to listen to emergency radios for incident alerts as well as maintain operating standards and emergency procedures. As a Traffic Operator, you will be responsible for carrying out rig movements while drilling is going on, depending on the particular industry. You'll do some other tasks like operating heavy machinery like the bobcat equipment and also perform demolition work.

What does a traffic manager do?

The main job of a traffic manager is to make sure that account service marketing collateral works and flows efficiently to production and creative departments. Traffic managers take responsibility for keeping everyone in the team on task and the projects on deadline. They manage the logistics tasks and keep the parties up-to-date on the recent progress. It is their job to coordinate work among the account managers, staff members, and advertisers. Also, they develop and maintain procedure transportation and distribution for delivery efficiency maximization.

Traffic operator vs traffic manager salary

Traffic operators and traffic managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Traffic OperatorTraffic Manager
Average salary$36,610$61,734
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $53,000Between $37,000 And $102,000
Highest paying CityTopeka, KSSan Carlos, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonVirginia
Best paying companyTrafiguraAbbVie
Best paying industryFinance-

Differences between traffic operator and traffic manager education

There are a few differences between a traffic operator and a traffic manager in terms of educational background:

Traffic OperatorTraffic Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Traffic operator vs traffic manager demographics

Here are the differences between traffic operators' and traffic managers' demographics:

Traffic OperatorTraffic Manager
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 60.2% Female, 39.8%Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 6.2% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between traffic operator and traffic manager duties and responsibilities

Traffic operator example 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.

Traffic manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage and schedule all FM commercials for national affiliates.
  • Manage and schedule all FM commercials per customers' contract drive times.
  • Manage all inbound material which include part shortages, EC changes, QC inspection parts and sequence material.
  • Train and supervise coordinators and junior AE s. create job number tracking system for print/broadcast events.
  • Provide oversight to all computer functions relative to the importation of vessels and the release and shipment of vehicles.
  • Perform continuous analysis of TMS, operation and business process for continuous improvement.
  • Show more

Traffic operator vs traffic manager skills

Common traffic operator skills
  • Patrol, 15%
  • Traffic Management, 10%
  • CCTV, 7%
  • Incident Management, 6%
  • DOT, 6%
  • Traffic Control, 6%
Common traffic manager skills
  • Project Management, 10%
  • Traffic Management, 6%
  • Account Executives, 5%
  • FAA, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Traffic Logs, 4%

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