What You'll Do

  • Interact with the public to answer traffic-related questions, respond to complaints or requests, or discuss traffic control ordinances, plans, policies, or procedures.
  • Prepare drawings of proposed signal installations or other control devices, using drafting instruments or computer-automated drafting equipment.
  • Plan, design, and improve components of traffic control systems to accommodate current or projected traffic and to increase usability and efficiency.
  • Analyze data related to traffic flow, accident rates, or proposed development to determine the most efficient methods to expedite traffic flow.
  • Prepare work orders for repair, maintenance, or changes in traffic systems.
  • Study factors affecting traffic conditions, such as lighting or sign and marking visibility, to assess their effectiveness.
  • Visit development or work sites to determine projects' effect on traffic and the adequacy of traffic control and safety plans or to suggest traffic control measures.
  • Lay out pavement markings for striping crews.
  • Operate counters and record data to assess the volume, type, and movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic at specified times.
  • Provide technical supervision regarding traffic control devices to other traffic technicians or laborers.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 3.62/5
Reading Comprehension 3.25/5
Speaking 3.25/5
Critical Thinking 3.25/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.25/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.25/5
Writing 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Active Learning 3.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.0/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Systems Analysis 3.0/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness, Integrity, Stress Tolerance

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 3.88/5
Oral Expression 3.88/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.88/5
Inductive Reasoning 3.75/5
Written Comprehension 3.62/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.38/5
Speech Recognition 3.38/5
Speech Clarity 3.38/5

Technologies & Tools

Autodesk AutoCAD Bentley MicroStation C++ Computer aided design and drafting software CADD Dowling Associates TRAFFIX ESRI ArcGIS software ESRI ArcView Geographic information system GIS systems JAMAR Technologies PETRAPro Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word Oracle Database Pd' Programming Intersection Magic Python R

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.48/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.43/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 3.96/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 3.93/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 3.81/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

Similar Careers to Explore

Food Science Technicians

99.9% similar profile

Nuclear Technicians

99.8% similar profile

Computer Hardware Engineers

99.7% similar profile

Surveyors

99.6% similar profile

Geodetic Surveyors

99.6% similar profile

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

99.6% similar profile

Electrical Engineers

99.5% similar profile

Remote Sensing Technicians

99.5% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Collection Technician Field Traffic Investigator Highway Traffic Control Technician Pavement Engineer Permit Technician Radar Signal Processing Engineers Sign Technician Street Light Technician Survey Field Technician Traffic Analyst Traffic Control Laborer Traffic Control Specialist Traffic Control Technician Traffic Engineering Technician Traffic Investigator Traffic Management Specialist Traffic Monitor Specialist Traffic Signal Technician (TST) Traffic Specialist Traffic Survey Technician Traffic Technician Transportation Analyst Transportation Planning Technician Transportation Technician

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.