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The differences between traffic operators and transportation 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 transportation manager. Additionally, a transportation manager has an average salary of $77,378, 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 transportation manager are customer service, DOT, and supply chain.
| Traffic Operator | Transportation Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $36,610 | $77,378 |
| Hourly rate | $17.60 | $37.20 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 31,592 | 25,248 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A transportation manager is an individual who is responsible for directing and managing tasks that involves all the transportation activities within the organization. Transportation managers must ensure that goods and passengers have reached their destination safely by inspecting and providing maintenance to the organization's vehicles. During the hiring process, transportation managers must make sure that drivers and operators have the correct and up to date qualifications. They must also avoid passenger overload and should keep accurate records of passengers and goods that are being transported.
Traffic operators and transportation managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Traffic Operator | Transportation Manager | |
| Average salary | $36,610 | $77,378 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $53,000 | Between $53,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Topeka, KS | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Trafigura | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a traffic operator and a transportation manager in terms of educational background:
| Traffic Operator | Transportation Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between traffic operators' and transportation managers' demographics:
| Traffic Operator | Transportation Manager | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.2% Female, 39.8% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |