How to hire a traffic technician

How to hire a traffic technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step traffic technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a traffic technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new traffic technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your traffic technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a traffic technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a traffic technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a traffic technician that fits the bill.

   This list presents traffic technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Traffic Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Traffic Technician		$12-30
   Traffic Controller	The primary role of a traffic controller is to direct the flow of machinery and vehicles on roads and any other work sites. Traffic controllers coordinate, setup, manage, and remove traffic control... Show more	$11-30
   Traffic Analyst	A traffic analyst is responsible for providing traffic insights and developing strategies to optimize the organization's daily operations. Even though the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place or industry of employment, it usually includes conducting extensive research and analyses, developing action plans according to project goals and daily objectives, conducting risk assessments, and maintaining records... Show more	$21-41

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Traffic Control Devices
   • Traffic Data
   • Traffic Safety
   • Street Lights
   • Construction Projects
   • Autocad
   • Public Safety
   • Traffic Counters
   • Traffic Control Signs
   • Traffic Flow
   • Traffic Studies
   • DOT
   • Traffic Control
   • Two-Way Radio

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead team providing cargo, personal property and passenger movements for DoD personnel.
   • Compose written reports of data collect from patient evaluation and present to department chief for thorough analysis of patient diagnosis.
   • Used CarteGraph software to track traffic signal and street light assets.

   More traffic technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your traffic technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A traffic technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, traffic technicians' average salary in vermont is 47% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level traffic technicians 58% less than senior-level traffic technicians.
   • Certifications. A traffic technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a traffic technician's salary.

   Average traffic technician salary

   $42,175yearly

   $20.28 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level traffic technician salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average traffic technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$53,594	$26
   2	Hawaii	$45,858	$22
   3	Colorado	$43,688	$21
   4	Michigan	$41,042	$20
   5	District of Columbia	$40,365	$19
   6	Texas	$35,800	$17
   7	Iowa	$35,496	$17
   8	Georgia	$33,684	$16

   Average traffic technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	AECOM	$59,089	$28.41	37
   2	M.C. Dean	$41,693	$20.04	23
   3	Loveland City Hall	$41,355	$19.88
   4	Town of Flower Mound	$41,075	$19.75	1
   5	City of Lewisville	$40,511	$19.48
   6	TJKM Transportation Consultants	$39,602	$19.04
   7	The Cooper Companies	$39,192	$18.84
   8	CooperVision	$38,746	$18.63
   9	Douglas County	$36,780	$17.68
   10	State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia	$35,255	$16.95	4
   11	PeopleReady	$34,037	$16.36	5

4. Writing a traffic technician job description

   A traffic technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a traffic technician job description:

   Traffic technician job description example

   The purpose of the position is to construct, repair and maintain traffic signals and signs on streets and in department locations. This is accomplished by completing traffic signal maintenance and repair; fabricating signs; preparing equipment for installation; installing and modifying signals; and preparing equipment for installation. Other duties include conducting traffic counts and inspecting equipment and signals for repair.
   Specific Duties and Responsibilities
   
   * Completes signal and flasher maintenance by diagnosing problems; replacing lamps; repairing, replacing and aligning signal heads and signs; connecting power failures; and testing the operation of replaced equipment.
   * Prepares equipment for installation by ordering poles, signs, letters and other related materials; fabricating signs; ensuring current standards are met in the installation and maintenance of signs; testing controllers, controller cabinets and associated equipment; and assembling signal heads and signal associated signs.
   * Completes preventive maintenance by checking controllers, cabinets and associated equipment; tightening connections and hardware; replacing lamps; checking emergency vehicle and loop detectors; ordering warehouse supplies; and testing operation of replaced equipment.
   * Installs signals and zone flashers by completing site preparations; running cables and conduits; erecting poles; installing controllers; and installing, connecting and testing signals.
   * Completes traffic counts by placing and retrieving counters; downloading data; and presenting information.
   
   Qualifications
   
   * High School Graduation or equivalent
   * Two Years of experience constructing and repairing traffic signal systems and signs
   
   Supplemental Information
   
   * Knowledge of methods, materials and techniques used in the maintenance, construction, installation and repair of traffic signals and signs, electricity and related wiring, and electronics as it related to traffic signal equipment
   * Skill in the operation of bucket trucks, hand and power tools and two way radios
   * Skill in the operation and use of standard office software which includes databases and presentation programs, along with standard Microsoft products
   * Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, with co-workers, the public, and elected and appointed officials

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right traffic technician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with traffic technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit traffic technicians who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your traffic technician job on Zippia to find and recruit traffic technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting traffic technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new traffic technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect traffic technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new traffic technician. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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