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.
7,860 people do this job in the US. $59,090 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 80%
- 0%
- 20%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 15%. Today's estimate: 22%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 22 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare drawings of proposed signal installations or other control devices, using drafting instruments or computer-automated drafting equipment.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 29% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 17%Half by Apr 2027 | |
| Plan, design, and improve components of traffic control systems to accommodate current or projected traffic and to increase usability and efficiency.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 20% | 1 work day3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 5%Half by Oct 2027 | |
| Study factors affecting traffic conditions, such as lighting or sign and marking visibility, to assess their effectiveness.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 12% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | 46%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Analyze data related to traffic flow, accident rates, or proposed development to determine the most efficient methods to expedite traffic flow.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 8% | 5 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 15%Half by Jun 2027 | |
| Provide technical supervision regarding traffic control devices to other traffic technicians or laborers.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 8% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Gather and compile data from hand count sheets, machine count tapes, or radar speed checks and code data for computer input.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 3% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | 87%Half by now | |
| Study traffic delays by noting times of delays, the numbers of vehicles affected, and vehicle speed through the delay area.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 2.5 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| 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.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 2.1 h50 min to 4.2 h | Stays with people | |
| Interact with the public to answer traffic-related questions, respond to complaints or requests, or discuss traffic control ordinances, plans, policies, or procedures.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 25 min8 min to 1.3 h | 97%Half by now | |
| Establish procedures for street closures or for repair or construction projects.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 2.5 h1.3 h to 6.7 h | 59%Half by now | |
| Lay out pavement markings for striping crews.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 2% | 2.1 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Operate counters and record data to assess the volume, type, and movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic at specified times.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 1.7 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians21% now, 76% by 2028
- Construction and Building Inspectors24% now, 48% by 2028
- Air Traffic Controllers71% now, 73% by 2028
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters32% now, 33% by 2028
- Highway Maintenance Workers0% now, 0% by 2028
- Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation13% now, 28% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).