Traffic Technicians Salary
In Washington, traffic technicians earn $71,960 at the median, or about $34.59 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $70,542 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 36.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Washington. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in Washington?
About traffic technicians
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for traffic technicians, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 37.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level traffic technicians (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track traffic technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a traffic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 37.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for traffic technicians in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new traffic technicians typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,659/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is traffic technician a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $72K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for traffic technicians?
Washington pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do traffic technicians make in Washington?
The median is $71,960 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,990, and experienced traffic technicians can clear $103,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,918/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 37.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a traffic technicians salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median traffic technicians salary is worth about $70,542 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do traffic technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.