Career Overview
Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations.
Also Known As
- Planner
- Program Officer
- Transportation Data Programs Manager
- Transportation Planner
Alternate Job Titles
- Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (ATSS)
- Fleet Coordinator
- Planner
- Program Officer
- Traffic Analyst
- Transit Planner
- Transportation Analyst
- Transportation Consultant
- Transportation Data Programs Manager
- Transportation Designer
- Transportation Logistics Analyst
- Transportation Management Consultant
- Transportation Modeler
- Transportation Operations Specialist
- Transportation Planner
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Define regional or local transportation planning problems or priorities.
- Participate in public meetings or hearings to explain planning proposals, to gather feedback from those affected by projects, or to achieve consensus on project designs.
- Prepare reports or recommendations on transportation planning.
- Collaborate with engineers to research, analyze, or resolve complex transportation design issues.
- Recommend transportation system improvements or projects, based on economic, population, land-use, or traffic projections.
- Develop computer models to address transportation planning issues.
- Analyze information related to transportation, such as land use policies, environmental impact of projects, or long-range planning needs.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Transportation
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Law and Government
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Learning
- Systems Evaluation
- Coordination
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Fluency of Ideas
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Visualization
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
- Cooperation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Bentley MicroStation
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Access
Tools & Equipment
- Blueprint machines
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Photocopying equipment
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Sitting
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Transportation Planners.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $62,570 |
| Median | $100,340 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $160,810 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 36,970
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Transportation Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $99,590
Urban and Regional Planners
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $83,720
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $102,010
Logistics Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,880
Logisticians
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,880
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.