Where traffic controller pay sits against the national full-time average
The median weekly earnings for road traffic controllers are not published by the ABS, so we cannot give a precise figure for the typical salary. However, we can compare the minimum award rates and industry data to the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026.
Minimum award rates under the Road Transport and Distribution Award
Traffic controllers are covered by the Road Transport and Distribution Award (MA000038). The Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide effective from July 2026 sets minimum hourly rates for transport employees. For a Transport worker grade 1, the minimum is $26.87 per hour, or $1,021.00 per week for a 38-hour week. Higher grades go up to $31.55 per hour for grade 10. These rates are above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Even the highest minimum award rate is well below the national full-time average.
Employment profile from Jobs and Skills Australia
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there are about 16,100 road traffic controllers employed. The part-time share is 48%, and 33% are female. The median age is 43 years. Full-time workers average 45 hours per week, which is slightly above the all-occupations average of 44 hours. The state distribution shows 10.7% in Western Australia and 0.6% in the Australian Capital Territory.
How pay compares to the national average
The national full-time average for all occupations is $2,083.70 per week. Even if a traffic controller works full-time at the minimum grade 1 rate, the weekly pay is $1,021, which is about 49% of the national average. Actual pay may be higher due to experience, location, or overtime. The full-time median for all employees is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 per year. The minimum award rate for a traffic controller is below both medians.
State full-time averages
The site uses ABS Average Weekly Earnings by state: New South Wales $109,658, Victoria $106,137, Queensland $106,064, South Australia $102,450, Western Australia $115,825, Tasmania $96,008, Northern Territory $103,173, and Australian Capital Territory $119,090. Traffic controllers in Western Australia may have higher pay due to the higher state average.
Tax on a traffic controller salary
If a traffic controller earns the minimum award rate of $1,021 per week, that is about $53,092 per year. Under 2026-27 tax rates, tax would be nil on the first $18,200, then 15% on the next $26,800, and 30% on the remainder. The Medicare levy of 2% applies. The after-tax income would be lower than the national average.
How the figures are set
The national full-time average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, published twice a year for May and November. The medians are from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025. The minimum wage is from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026. Award rates rose 4.75% in the 2026 Annual Wage Review.
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Conclusion
Traffic controller pay sits well below the national full-time average. The median is not published, but the minimum award is about half the national average. Actual pay may be higher for experienced workers or in Western Australia.
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