Traffic Flagger Salary in USA

$18/hr

Compare work-zone offers by paid hours, dispatch arrangements and benefits. National figures include crossing guards as well as construction flaggers.

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What Traffic Flaggers Earn in the United States

Current national crossing-guard and flagger employee wages span $14.83–$29.66/hr, or $30,840–$61,690/year, with an $18.32/hr median. The category includes school and other traffic-control work, so it is broader than construction flagging alone. Compare the construction-sector figures below with the actual assignment. Location, employer, scheduled hours, dispatch arrangements and benefits affect the practical value of an offer.

Hourly rates by level in USA

What traffic flaggers earn at each stage of the trade in USA, before overtime or per-diem.

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$14.83–$16.55/hr
▲ 1.05% from last year
Skilled · 3–7 yrs
$16.55–$22.86/hr
▲ 1.05% from last year
Lead · 7+ yrs
$22.86–$29.66/hr
▲ 1.05% from last year

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Where do you stand?

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$/ hr

Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.

You're right around the middle

$32.00 is above roughly 52% of this market. The top quarter starts at $37.00, and the median sits at $31.50.

10th
$18
25th
$25
Median
$32
75th
$37
90th
$50
YOU · $32.00
Your percentile
52th
Among this market
Your annual · 40 hrs
$66,560
Before overtime and per diem
Gap to median
+$1,040
Above the median

Calculate Pay With Extra Credentials

Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.

1Your level

2Certifications you hold

3Shift & work type

4Overtime & per diem

Weekly overtime hours8 hrs
Per diem (per day away)$0
American RecruitsEstimate
Skilled Traffic Flagger
USA · Day Shift
Base rate$19.71
+ Traffic Flagger Certification$0.38
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.38
Effective hourly$20.47
Straight · 40 hrs$819
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$246
Weekly gross$1,064
Annualised · 50 weeks
$53,209
8 OT hrs/week · USA

Who pays the most in USA

Specialty contractors, road builders and staffing employers offer three traffic-control settings. These national crossing-guard and flagger medians rank selected industries; changing sites, weather and variable supervision distinguish assignments, rather than an exhaustive pay ranking.

01 / 03$24.12/hr

Other Specialty Trade Contractors

Traffic control within specialist contracting.

+ Project variety
+ Field experience
– Changing locations
– Uneven workloads
02 / 03$21.40/hr

Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction

Traffic control supporting road construction.

+ Infrastructure projects
+ Team coordination
– Traffic exposure
– Weather interruptions
03 / 03$17.13/hr

Employment Services

Traffic-control assignments through staffing employers.

+ Employer connections
+ Varied assignments
– Variable hours
– Changing supervision

Which states pay traffic flaggers the most

Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.

  1. 01California$24.33/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
Traffic Flagger Certification+$0.38$790$604 weeks
Fall Protection Competent Person+$0.75$1,560$1625 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.38$790$906 weeks
Traffic Control Technician+$0.75$1,560$2007 weeks
First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)+$0.25$520$758 weeks

What overtime actually adds

At $18.32/hr.

40 hr week
$733
No OT
50 hr week
$1,008
+$13,740/yr
60 hr week
$1,282
+$27,480/yr
70 hr week
$1,557
+$41,220/yr

Questions workers ask

Can quiet time at a flagging station count as paid work?▾
Yes. Remaining assigned to the station and ready to control traffic can be working time even when vehicles are absent. Being genuinely relieved from duty is different. Record the instructions, not just the minutes spent signaling; the employer's description of a pause does not alone determine paid hours.
Can a lost-radio charge be deducted without limits?▾
No. Federal rules restrict employer-benefit deductions that reduce covered workers below minimum wages or cut required overtime. State protections may be stronger. Ask for the terms and payroll calculation; a signed equipment agreement does not automatically authorize every deduction.
Is moving between work zones during the day paid?▾
Generally, jobsite-to-jobsite travel during the workday counts as working time. Ordinary commuting differs. Separate paid travel hours from mileage reimbursement and record required departure, arrival and equipment duties.

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Source: Current BLS Crossing Guards and Flaggers employee wages, SOC 33-9091; the category includes work beyond construction flagging.

Last updated October 20, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.