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The differences between transportation technicians and traffic signal technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a transportation technician and a traffic signal technician. Additionally, a traffic signal technician has an average salary of $45,817, which is higher than the $37,073 average annual salary of a transportation technician.
The top three skills for a transportation technician include patients, customer service and CPR. The most important skills for a traffic signal technician are CDL, IMSA, and traffic control devices.
| Transportation Technician | Traffic Signal Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,073 | $45,817 |
| Hourly rate | $17.82 | $22.03 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 32,224 | 8,006 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Associate Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A transportation technician is tasked to assist in all matters concerning transportation and delivery of products and items to intended destinations. The transportation technician provides the proper delivery and transport rates and methods on the best and most efficient delivery method. The transport technician must have ample information on various transportation methods, companies that provide transport service and ensure that all products or items delivered are kept safe from damages to establish trust and customer satisfaction.
Traffic Signal Technicians are responsible for the repair, maintenance, and installation of traffic signals as well as highway lighting systems. Their duties include maintaining and assembling traffic signals and highway lightings, administering concrete for control equipment and pole installation, utilizing traffic signal software, and carrying out annual inspections. They are responsible for conducting diagnostic testing for repairs, locating utilities, and installing traffic control for work zones. Traffic Signal Technicians also manage maintenance records, operate equipment that is motorized, and reports project progress to the supervisor.
Transportation technicians and traffic signal technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Transportation Technician | Traffic Signal Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,073 | $45,817 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $25,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | Santa Monica, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | RS&H | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | Government | Construction |
There are a few differences between a transportation technician and a traffic signal technician in terms of educational background:
| Transportation Technician | Traffic Signal Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Associate Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pittsburgh |
Here are the differences between transportation technicians' and traffic signal technicians' demographics:
| Transportation Technician | Traffic Signal Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.4% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7% | Black or African American, 14.9% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 6.7% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |