How to reach the top 1% of Traffic Controllers
Four moves, straight from how the highest-paid in this field use AI in 2026:
Traffic Controller Salary in 2026
Traffic Controller pay, in real terms
At the national median of $52,000/year, a traffic controller earns $4,333/month before taxes. Over a 30-year career that's roughly $1,560,000 in gross earnings — and that's before raises, promotions, or bonuses.
That puts this role about 8% above the U.S. median wage for all workers (about $48,060/year, per BLS). Using the common rule of keeping housing under 30% of gross pay, this salary supports about $1,300/month in rent or mortgage.
Figures are gross (pre-tax) estimates from the national median; use the take-home and hourly calculators on PayCrunch for your exact state and situation.
What Does a Traffic Controller Do?
Traffic controllers direct vehicle and pedestrian traffic around construction zones, accidents, and special events.
Traffic Controller Salary by State
Select your state to see the adjusted traffic controller salary based on cost-of-living differences.
How to Become a Traffic Controller
Education: High school diploma + certification
Certifications: ATSSA certification
Traffic Controller Salary by Experience
Estimates based on BLS percentile data and industry surveys. Actual salaries vary by employer, location, and individual qualifications.
Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Traffic Controllers
| # | State | Annual | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $61,360 | $5,113 | $29.50 |
| 2 | California | $59,800 | $4,983 | $28.75 |
| 3 | New York | $59,800 | $4,983 | $28.75 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $58,240 | $4,853 | $28.00 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $58,240 | $4,853 | $28.00 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $57,200 | $4,767 | $27.50 |
| 7 | Washington | $57,200 | $4,767 | $27.50 |
| 8 | Maryland | $56,160 | $4,680 | $27.00 |
| 9 | Alaska | $54,600 | $4,550 | $26.25 |
| 10 | Colorado | $54,600 | $4,550 | $26.25 |
State salaries estimated using BLS national median adjusted by regional cost-of-living factors.
Compare to Related Jobs
| Job Title | Median Salary | Hourly | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Controller | $52,000 | $25.00 | — |
| Freight Broker | $52,000 | $25.00 | — |
| Loading Dock Supervisor | $52,000 | $25.00 | — |
| Forklift Mechanic | $52,000 | $25.00 | — |
| CDL Driver | $50,000 | $24.04 | $-2,000 |
| Long Haul Trucker | $54,000 | $25.96 | +$2,000 |
| Transit Operator | $50,000 | $24.04 | $-2,000 |
Job Outlook
The BLS projects +5% growth for traffic controllers through 2032, which is faster than average compared to the average for all occupations (3%).
🆕 New & Trending AI Tools for Traffic ControllerReviewed July 2026
We track new AI-tool launches every week and refresh this list — here’s what’s gaining traction for Traffic Controller work right now.
AI-driven month-end close, reconciliation, and reporting.
How a Traffic Controller uses it: automate reconciliations and close the books faster
AI that reads and analyzes large financial documents and filings.
How a Traffic Controller uses it: pull answers out of contracts, filings, and reports in minutes
Google tool that answers questions grounded only in the documents you give it — with citations.
How a Traffic Controller uses it: load your own manuals, policies, or PDFs and ask questions that stay accurate to the source
AI that scans transactions for anomalies, errors, and fraud risk.
How a Traffic Controller uses it: flag risky or unusual entries across the whole ledger, not just a sample
Autonomous accounts-payable and invoice processing.
How a Traffic Controller uses it: let AI code and process invoices with minimal manual entry
Finance platform with AI that automates expenses and spend controls.
How a Traffic Controller uses it: auto-categorize spend and catch policy issues in real time
Microsoft analytics with AI that builds dashboards and explains trends.
How a Traffic Controller uses it: ask questions of financial data and get charts and forecasts back
The most-used AI assistant — writing, analysis, research, and images from a plain-language chat.
How a Traffic Controller uses it: draft emails and documents, summarize long files, and get instant answers to on-the-job questions
AI assistant known for careful writing, long-document analysis, and coding.
How a Traffic Controller uses it: analyze big reports or spreadsheets and turn messy notes into clean, finished writing
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology and data sources
Salary data is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) program. National median, 10th percentile, and 90th percentile figures are sourced from the most recent BLS OES release. State-level salary estimates are calculated by applying regional price parity adjustments from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to the national median. Job growth projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program. Education and certification requirements are based on BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook descriptions. All figures are approximate and updated periodically.