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Boston Career Explorer

Transportation and Material Moving

Traffic Technicians

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.

Also called: Field Traffic Investigator, Traffic Control Technician (Traffic Control Tech), Traffic Field Investigator, Traffic Investigator, Traffic Monitor Specialist, Traffic Signal Technician (TST)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$67,450
$32.43/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
50
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+4.1%
10 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$45,220$60,800$67,450$74,700$95,520

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Study factors affecting traffic conditions, such as lighting or sign and marking visibility, to assess their effectiveness.
  • Interact with the public to answer traffic-related questions, respond to complaints or requests, or discuss traffic control ordinances, plans, policies, or procedures.
  • Prepare work orders for repair, maintenance, or changes in traffic systems.
  • 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.
  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure56 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 56
  • Language-model AIOE 50
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 63

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

Traffic Technicians have moderate AI exposure, and observed AI use in this job is little or none so far. AI tools could help with the data-heavy tasks, such as analyzing traffic flow and accident data or drafting work orders. Field studies, judging how signs and lighting work in person, and talking with the public still rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Analyzing traffic flow and accident data
  • Drafting work orders and reports

Still relies on people

  • Studying real road conditions in the field
  • Answering questions and complaints from the public

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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