Traffic Technicians build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and coordination skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (91%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 91% | $64,950 | +10% | None |
| 2 | Construction and Building Inspectors | 88% | $74,690 | +26% | None |
| 3 | Surveying and Mapping Technicians | 84% | $54,240 | −8% | None |
| 4 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 84% | $106,730 | +81% | None |
| 5 | Air Traffic Controllers | 82% | $148,080 | +151% | None |
| 6 | Geodetic Surveyors | 76% | $75,440Pay for the broader BLS group “Surveyors” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | 76% | $78,000 | +32% | None |
| 8 | Energy Auditors | 76% | $74,690Pay for the broader BLS group “Construction and Building Inspectors” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 75% | $61,560 | +4% | None |
| 10 | Airfield Operations Specialists | 74% | $56,850 | −4% | None |
Compared with Traffic Technicians, median $59,090. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as traffic technicians (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
91% skill match · $64,950 · +10% pay
88% skill match · $74,690 · +26% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Time Management · Systems Evaluation
84% skill match · $54,240 · −8% pay
Programming
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (91% skill match, median $64,950), Construction and Building Inspectors (88% skill match, median $74,690) and Surveying and Mapping Technicians (84% skill match, median $54,240), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 15 pay more than traffic technicians at the median. The biggest increases: Air Traffic Controllers (+151%, $148,080), Power Distributors and Dispatchers (+81%, $106,730) and Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters (+32%, $78,000).
18 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.