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Career Exploration

Traffic Technicians

Also called: Traffic Control Technician, Traffic Signal Technician (TST), Traffic Technician, Transportation Technician

What they do:

Conduct field studies to determine traffic volume, speed, effectiveness of signals, adequacy of lighting, and other factors influencing traffic conditions, under direction of traffic engineer.

On the job, you would:
  • Study traffic delays by noting times of delays, the numbers of vehicles affected, and vehicle speed through the delay area.
  • Interact with the public to answer traffic-related questions, respond to complaints or requests, or discuss traffic control ordinances, plans, policies, or procedures.
  • Prepare graphs, charts, diagrams, or other aids to illustrate observations or conclusions.
On the job, you'll need:

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics
  • product and service development

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security
  • law and government

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Math

  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Analytical Thinking

Analytical or scientific software

  • SAS
  • The MathWorks MATLAB

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Bentley MicroStation

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $50,050

Education

High school diploma/GED or some college is usually needed.