AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 53-6041.00

Will AI replace Traffic Technicians?

Traffic Technicians: AI can already handle 6 of 23 tasks; the work mostly needs a standard-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 23 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Traffic Technicians, from most to least exposed. 6 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Prepare drawings of proposed signal installations or other control devices, using drafting instruments or computer-automated drafting equipment. 85 Estimated Frontier 4.0
Analyze data related to traffic flow, accident rates, or proposed development to determine the most efficient methods to expedite traffic flow. 80 Estimated Standard 4.1
Gather and compile data from hand count sheets, machine count tapes, or radar speed checks and code data for computer input. 80 Estimated Standard 4.0
Study factors affecting traffic conditions, such as lighting or sign and marking visibility, to assess their effectiveness. 65 Estimated Standard 4.0
Operate counters and record data to assess the volume, type, and movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic at specified times. 65 Estimated Standard 3.9
Review traffic control or barricade plans to issue permits for parades or other special events or for construction work that affects rights of way, providing assistance with plan preparation or revision, as necessary. 65 Estimated Efficient 3.8
Plan, design, and improve components of traffic control systems to accommodate current or projected traffic and to increase usability and efficiency. 50 Estimated Standard 4.1
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. 50 Estimated Standard 3.7
Interact with the public to answer traffic-related questions, respond to complaints or requests, or discuss traffic control ordinances, plans, policies, or procedures. 50 Estimated Standard 3.7
Develop plans or long-range strategies for providing adequate parking space. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.2
Prepare graphs, charts, diagrams, or other aids to illustrate observations or conclusions. 40 Observed Standard 3.5
Prepare work orders for repair, maintenance, or changes in traffic systems. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.1
Maintain or make minor adjustments or field repairs to equipment used in surveys, including the replacement of parts on traffic data gathering devices. 20 Estimated Efficient 3.8
Establish procedures for street closures or for repair or construction projects. 20 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Compute time settings for traffic signals or speed restrictions, using standard formulas. 15 Estimated No tier 4.0
Lay out pavement markings for striping crews. 15 Estimated No tier 3.9
Provide technical supervision regarding traffic control devices to other traffic technicians or laborers. 15 Estimated No tier 3.9
Measure and record the speed of vehicular traffic, using electrical timing devices or radar equipment. 15 Estimated No tier 3.9
Place and secure automatic counters, using power tools, and retrieve counters after counting periods end. 15 Estimated No tier 3.8
Study traffic delays by noting times of delays, the numbers of vehicles affected, and vehicle speed through the delay area. 15 Estimated No tier 3.8
Time stoplights or other delays, using stopwatches. 15 Estimated No tier 3.8
Provide traffic information, such as road conditions, to the public. 15 Estimated No tier 3.5
Monitor street or utility projects for compliance to traffic control permit conditions. 15 Estimated No tier 3.2

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 1 of 23 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 22 of 23. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A standard-tier model or lower covers 53% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 61% of the work is something AI can address at some tier, and 39% is hands-on.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
7,860
Median annual wage
$59,090
Middle half of earners
$46,440 to $75,850
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
+3.7%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Traffic Technicians and AI

Will AI replace Traffic Technicians?

AI already handles 6 of the 23 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 39 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +3.7% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the AI exposure of Traffic Technicians?

39 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 1 of the 23 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 22 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Traffic Technicians tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Prepare drawings of proposed signal installations or other control devices, using drafting instruments or computer-automated drafting equipment; Analyze data related to traffic flow, accident rates, or proposed development to determine the most efficient methods to expedite traffic flow; Gather and compile data from hand count sheets, machine count tapes, or radar speed checks and code data for computer input. They are three of the 6 tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A standard-tier model or lower covers 53% of the role's importance-weighted task work, and 39% is hands-on work that no model tier covers. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Traffic Technicians, and what do they earn?

7,860 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $59,090 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +3.7% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Traffic Technicians. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/traffic-technicians

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