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Salary comparison

Traffic Technicians vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Traffic Technicians out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by $19K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Traffic Technicians land at $59,090 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $40,240. The education gap is real: traffic technician programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Traffic Technicians is California ($79,110); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Traffic Technicians
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$59,090
$40,240
Hourly rate
$28.41/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$39,090
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$85,130
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
7,860
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
3.7%
1.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
California
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Traffic Technicians median pay.

State
Traffic Technicians
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
California
$79,110
$44,710
Minnesota
$77,810
$46,280
Washington
$71,960
$46,190
New York
$71,670
$44,630
Indiana
$71,000
$41,340
Illinois
$70,970
$40,550
Iowa
$68,100
$43,490
Pennsylvania
$65,610
$42,480
Massachusetts
$63,780
$44,920
Utah
$61,970
$42,370
Nebraska
$61,380
$42,910
Maryland
$60,650
$41,600
Arizona
$59,980
$44,290
Wisconsin
$58,940
$44,610
Connecticut
$50,400
$43,640

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Traffic Technicians or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Traffic Technicians earn more nationally. The median is $59,090 for Traffic Technicians versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, a difference of $19K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Traffic Technicians or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Traffic Technicians has the better 10-year outlook at 3.7% projected growth, compared to 1.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Traffic Technicians or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Traffic Technicians typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Traffic Technicians get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Traffic Technicians at $79,110/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Traffic Technicians vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Traffic Technicians earn $79,110 vs. $44,710 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Traffic Technicians salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Traffic Technicians by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by take-home payExplore →How to become a traffic techniciansGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →