Traffic controller busts $200,000 salary myth in street interview

A traffic controller has revealed how much people in the industry really get paid, completely busting a common $200,000 belief.

A tradie has lifted the lid on how much traffic controllers actually earn in the seemingly lucrative profession.

The man, from Brisbane, was stopped by jobs app Getahead and asked what he does for work and how much he makes.

Having worked in the role for nine years, he said he brings in an annual salary of about $70,000.

Traffic controllers have been in the spotlight recently for the staggering salaries – some more than $200,000 – that can be earnt if they work a consistent number of night shifts and overtime.

“The freedom, every day is different and you get to meet a lot of people,” the man said, when asked what he loved about the job.

“If you’re on day shift, you stay on day shift, and night shift, (you stay on) night shift.”

The man said he works 12 hour days, adding: “You could be out of bed at four in the morning and you don’t get home until 6, 7pm at night.”

Many Aussies were amazed by the reality of the job.

“$70,000 for 12 hour shifts is terrible pay,” one wrote.

“Finally an honest traffic controller,” another added, while a third said: “I thought they earned loads more”.

Casual traffic controllers are paid a minimum rate of $35.04 per hour when working on non-residential construction sites, plus penalty rates, during weekdays, as laid out by the Fair Work Ombudsman Building and Construction General On-site Award.

The tradie told job app Getahead he made about $70,000 a year. Picture: Getahead

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According to employment website SEEK, the median salary for a traffic controller in Australia is between $65,000 to $80,000 annually – though this can be higher with overtime, night shifts, and public holiday work.

Sydney has the highest average salary for the job at $83,200, while Adelaide and Brisbane come in at $80,000.

Those in the role in Melbourne average around $70,040 a year.

Despite this, many people not in the industry hold the belief that being a traffic controller is an inherently well paying job that will see you easily earn over six-figures.

While this is the case for some people in the industry, it heavily depends on the type of projects they are working on and the hours they are doing.

Last year, industry whistleblowers reported that some CFMEU-affiliated traffic controllers working on Victoria’s Big Build projects were receiving the six-figure salaries - some bringing in over $200,000.

Victorian Secretary for The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), John Setka, defended the enormous salaries for traffic controllers on Victoria’s Big Build construction sites, stating smaller companies are “always going to whinge”.

“Some of these companies who are the whistleblowers, I mean the slaves that built the pyramids probably got a better deal than some of these workers at smaller companies … so I mean they’re always going to whinge,” he said.

Traffic controllers in Australia can take home between $65,000 to $80,000 annually. Picture: Bernard Humphreys

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The inflated wages have allegedly increased traffic management costs by $380 million, according to the whistleblowers.

The $206,000 a year salary for a traffic controller is based on a worker doing a six day, 50 hour work week.

Under the pay deal, workers would receive a base rate of $49 per hour, increased to $98 per hour for 16 hours of double time.

On top of this, they are also entitled to a $315 travel allowance, a $186 meal allowance on overtime, and $280 for a site allowance on mega projects.

“Our job is to protect our members and look after their interests and their welfare, and we don’t apologise for that,” Mr Setka said.

Mr Setka said there is a common misconception within the general public when they drive past a stop sign holder, that the job “looks really easy” but said in actual fact, “everything looks really easy, until you go to actually do it”.

“We’ve got the highest suicide rates of any industry, because of long hours and fatigue, you don’t get to see your friends and family if you’re working continuous night shifts,” he said.