Traffic signal technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a traffic signal technician. Traffic signal technicians usually study electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, or business. 36% of traffic signal technicians hold a associate degree, and 22% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 348 real traffic signal technician resumes to see exactly what traffic signal technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for traffic signal technicians are the Florida Technical College and the Florida Technical College.

There are also many online traffic signal technician courses to help get the education required to be a traffic signal technician.

What education do you need to become a traffic signal technician?

What degree do you need to be a traffic signal technician?

The most common degree for traffic signal technicians is associate degree, with 36% of traffic signal technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 22% and high school diploma degree at 21%.

Associate, 36%

High School Diploma, 22%

Bachelor's, 21%

Diploma, 13%

Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a traffic signal technician?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a traffic signal technician. 29% of traffic signal technicians major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a traffic signal technician include electrical engineering technology and business.

Electrical Engineering, 29%

Electrical Engineering Technology, 17%

Business, 6%

Industrial Technology, 6%

Other Majors, 42%

Most common colleges for traffic signal technicians

Traffic signal technicians often get their degrees at Florida Technical College, Kennesaw State University, and University of New Mexico. Here are the most common colleges for traffic signal technicians in the US based on their resumes.

Traffic signal technician common college	Percentages
Florida Technical College	8.70%
Kennesaw State University	8.70%
University of New Mexico	8.70%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	4.35%
Northeastern State University	4.35%

Show more common traffic signal technician colleges

Best majors for traffic signal technicians

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Electrical Engineering	29.3%
2	Electrical Engineering Technology	17.2%
3	Business	6.0%
4	Industrial Technology	6.0%
5	Electrical And Power Transmission Installers	4.3%

Show more common traffic signal technician majors

Best colleges for traffic signal technicians

The best colleges for traffic signal technicians are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Johns Hopkins University.

A traffic signal technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for traffic signal technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become traffic signal technicians.

1. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$19,080

Enrollment

19,127

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

3. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

4. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$6,853

Enrollment

23,939

5. University of New Hampshire

Durham, NH • Private

In-state tuition

$18,499

Enrollment

12,668

6. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

7. Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,356

Enrollment

22,239

8. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

9. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

10. Texas Southern University

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$9,173

Enrollment

7,604

20 best online courses for traffic signal technicians

Advertising disclosure

1. Digital Signal Processing

This Specialization provides a full course in Digital Signal Processing, with a focus on audio processing and data transmission. You will start from the basic concepts of discrete-time signals and proceed to learn how to analyze data via the Fourier transform, how to manipulate data via digital filters and how to convert analog signals into digital format. Finally, you will also discover how to implement real-time DSP algorithms on a general-purpose microcontroller. The solid theoretical bases...

2. Analyze Network Traffic with TCPDump

In this 1 hour guided project, you will learn how to use one of the most versatile Linux networking utilities tcpdump to capture and analyze TCP traffic. Popular among all ranks of networking professionals, tcpdump will definitely empower you in daily networking operations. Basic network experience and shell script basics are highly recommended as prerequisites...

3. Signals and Systems: From Basics to Advance

4.6

(358)

Learn the fundamental characteristics of signals and systems, Fourier Transform and Z-Transform from basic to advance...

4. Facebook Marketing: Drive Highly Targeted Facebook Traffic

4.5

(464)

The One Thing That Everybody Wants is Traffic. You Simply Cannot Have Enough Traffic!...

5. Creating Routing Policies to Handle Traffic with AWS Route53

In this 2-hour long project based course, we will look at how to handle and divert website traffic to multiple servers using Routing Policies in AWS Route 53. We will look at how you can configure different types of Routing Policies. We will start off with Simple Routing Policy which can be used to divert traffic to multiple servers / IP’s randomly. Then we will look at Weight Routing Policy which allows you to split your traffic based on different weights assigned. We will then move on to...

6. MikroTik Traffic Control with LABS

4.8

(468)

Learn advanced Mikro Tik Firewall, QOS HTB, Packet flow, DHCP and DNS topics & be ready for the Mikro Tik MTCTCE exam...

7. Complete Meta Traffic Ads (Meta CPC) Course + ChatGPT Guide

(621)

Push People to your Website with Meta Traffic Ads (Meta Link Clicks). Learn Meta CPC Ads [Cost Per Click]. Use Chat GPT...

8. Dirty Internet Marketing- Free Viral Website Traffic. No SEO

4.5

(334)

Nifty Internet/Online/Digital Marketing Methods To Get Free Viral Traffic To Your Website/Blog. No SEO skills needed...

9. Applied Control Systems 3: UAV drone (3D Dynamics & control)

4.6

(292)

Modeling + state space systems + Model Predictive Control + feedback control + Python simulation: UAV quadcopter drone...

10. Signal processing problems, solved in MATLAB and in Python

4.7

(1,988)

Applications-oriented instruction on signal processing and digital signal processing (DSP) using MATLAB and Python codes...

11. Control Systems Made Simple Beginner's Guide

4.4

(798)

Learn fundamentals of Mechanical & electrical system modeling, simulation and control with this unique practical course!...

12. Complete neural signal processing and analysis: Zero to hero

4.7

(1,402)

Learn signal processing and statistics using brain electrical data with expert instruction and code challenges in MATLAB...

13. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

4.2

(791)

Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...

14. Facebook Marketing: Next Level Traffic Generation Strategies

4.2

(275)

Deploy these proven & tested Facebook advertising hacks and drive thousands of visitors to your website every day!...

15. Electrical Control & Protection Systems

4.6

(1,763)

This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

16. The Complete Electrical Power Control and Protection

4.6

(519)

Your Complete Practical Guide in Electrical Control & Protection Systems for Stations , Substations & Distribution Zones...

17. PID Controllers - Intro to Control Design

4.2

(338)

Learn to write your own control software while learning fundamental control theory...

18. Electrical Control & Protection Systems part 2

4.7

(718)

This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

19. Applied Control Systems 1: autonomous cars: Math + PID + MPC

4.6

(1,142)

Modeling + state space systems + PID + Model Predictive Control + Python simulation: lateral control for autonomous cars...

20. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) From Ground Up™ in Python

4.2

(806)

Practical DSP in Python : Over 70 examples, FFT,Filter Design, IIR,FIR, Window Filters,Convolution,Linear Systems etc...

Top 10 most affordable universities for traffic signal technicians

The most affordable schools for traffic signal technicians are California State University - Long Beach, california state university - bakersfield, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for traffic signal technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for traffic signal technicians.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

5. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for traffic signal technicians

The hardest universities for traffic signal technicians to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for traffic signal technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for traffic signal technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

9. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • Private

Admissions rate

18%

SAT average

1,502

10. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for traffic signal technicians

The easiest schools for traffic signal technicians to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, capitol technology university, and kean university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a traffic signal technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for traffic signal technicians.

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

3. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

4. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

5. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,068

6. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona

Altoona, PA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,094

7. Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,019

8. Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,070

9. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,072

10. Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,093

Average traffic signal technician salary by education level

According to our data, traffic signal technicians with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $50,055 annually. Traffic signal technicians with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $41,673.

Traffic signal technician education level	Traffic signal technician salary
High School Diploma or Less	$39,529
Bachelor's Degree	$50,055
Some College/ Associate Degree	$41,673

Traffic signal technician education FAQs

What is the best college for Traffic Signal Technicians?

Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.

Search for traffic signal technician jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs