Principal Traffic Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Traffic Engineer make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Traffic Engineer in the United States is $81,947 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, a Principal Traffic Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,484
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,755 to $89,033
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $60,565
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View as table View as graph 25% $70,755 10% $60,565 90% $95,484 75% $89,033 $81,947 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Traffic Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $89,033 $7,419 $1,712 $43
Average $81,947 $6,829 $1,576 $39
25th Percentile $70,755 $5,896 $1,361 $34
Check out Principal Traffic Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Traffic Engineer

GeoWorld - Cleveland, OH

Traffic Engineer

Verdantas LLC - Cleveland, OH

Lead Traffic Engineer

WSP Global Inc. - Columbus, OH

Senior Traffic Project Engineer

Osborn Engineering - Cleveland, OH

Search More Principal Traffic Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Principal Traffic Engineer Salaries

A Principal Traffic Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Principal Traffic Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Principal Traffic Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $90,731.
  • California: $90,387.
  • Massachusetts: $89,183.

Top Paying Cities for Principal Traffic Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $103,359
  • San Francisco: $102,343
  • Oakland: $100,073

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Traffic Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 3.06% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Schematic (Mentioned in 1.03% Job Postings): A schematic, or schematic diagram, is a representation of the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures.
  • Avionics (Mentioned in 0.74% Job Postings): Avionics are the electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites, and spacecraft. Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems, and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to perform individual functions. These can be as simple as a searchlight for a police helicopter or as complicated as the tactical system for an airborne early warning platform. The term avionics is a portmanteau of the words aviation and electronics.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 3.06%
Schematic 1.03%
Avionics 0.74%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Principal Traffic Engineer's salary.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Research and Development: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Customer Satisfaction
$88,503
8%
Research and Development
$88,503
8%
SOP
$86,864
6%
ISO
$86,044
5%
Quality Management
$85,225
4%
Innovation
$85,225
4%
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How Education impacts a Principal Traffic Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principal Traffic Engineers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Principal Traffic Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $80,276 and $85,707).

Principal Traffic Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principal Traffic Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.9%
High School 39.0%
Associates 34.1%
Bachelors 22.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Principal Traffic Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Traffic Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Principal Traffic Engineer

Salaries for a Principal Traffic Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $64,563 in 2023 to around $64,547 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Traffic Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Traffic Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$64,563
2024
$64,843
2025
$64,547
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $64,563
2024 $64,843
2025 $64,547
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Principal Traffic Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Principal Traffic Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Principal Traffic Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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