Skip to main content

ITS industry in the US has grown to $48 billion and will expand

ITS America has released what it says is the most comprehensive study to date on the scope of the ITS industry in the United States and North America. Researchers found intelligent transportation to be a fast growing sector valued at approximately US$48 billion. Results indicate that cities and states with drastically reduced budgets are turning to technology solutions to maximize existing highway capacity.
April 17, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
"This report validates what we have known for some times - that the transportation technology industry is healthy, growing, and supports high-paying jobs across the country, even in tough economic times" - Scott Belcher, President and CEO, ITS America
RSS560 ITS America has released what it says is the most comprehensive study to date on the scope of the ITS industry in the United States and North America. Researchers found intelligent transportation to be a fast growing sector valued at approximately US$48 billion. Results indicate that cities and states with drastically reduced budgets are turning to technology solutions to maximize existing highway capacity.

The federally commissioned report developed by ITS America and 1712 IHS Global Insight, suggests the ITS technology sector will outpace other industries in job creation and revenue growth through at least 2015. It further indicates that jobs within this sector pay approximately 75 per cent more than the national average wage.

“In the current economic environment, we can’t afford to build our way out of the traffic congestion crisis,” said Scott Belcher, president and CEO of ITS America. “This report validates what we have known for some time – that the transportation technology industry is healthy, growing, and supports high-paying jobs across the country, even in tough economic times. This is a sector where the US is poised to lead the way in innovation.”

Researchers discovered almost 3,000 companies in more than 40,000 locations actively participating in some aspect of the intelligent transportation industry, from small start-ups that promote car-sharing to large corporations that supply state-of-the-art traffic management services to local governments.

Among the key findings in the report:

  • Researchers estimate an end-use ITS market of $48 billion with revenues that exceed those for electronic computers, motion picture and video products, direct mail advertising, or internet advertising.
  • The report model anticipates continuing expansion. From 2009 through 2015, US private sector revenues are expected to climb between $2.7 billion to $4.2 billion each year, with ITS revenue growth exceeding average growth for the US and North America.
  • The report estimates the industry to have 180,000 US end-use private sector jobs, with 445,000 total jobs in the value chain in 2009, corresponding to 0.3 per cent of the 138 million jobs in the US.
  • The 614 US ITS end-use market will add between 3,600 to 6,400 jobs each year through 2015, when private sector end-use market ITS employment is projected to reach more than 205,000.
  • Based on survey responses, average ITS salaries are well above the national average by more than 75 per cent, with the lowest paid earning more than eight per cent above the national average wage. Three occupations (software developer, hardware developer, and other engineering) account for 32 per cent of the ITS jobs.


For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Full analysis: Massive US EV infrastructure plan
    February 21, 2023
    The White House has announced a huge financial boost, new standards, and major progress for a made-in-America national network of EV chargers to support the future of US EV charging
  • Strabag investing in Irish motorway network
    May 9, 2014
    Construction group Strabag, as part of the DirectRoute consortium, will finance, plan, build and operate the 57 kilometre long section of the Irish N17/N18 motorway between Gort and Tuam near Galwayon behalf of National Roads of Ireland. The public-private partnership (PPP) project has a total private sector investment value of about US$459 million.
  • US motor vehicle deaths drop slightly in first half of 2017, but remain higher than two years ago
    August 17, 2017
    Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council indicate motor vehicle deaths in the first six months of 2017 are one per cent lower than they were during the same six-month period in 2016. However, it says the country is fresh off the steepest estimated two-year increase in motor vehicle deaths since 1964 and it is too early to conclude whether the upward trend is over. The estimated deaths during the first six months of 2017 still are eight per cent higher than the 2015 six-month estimates, and the
  • ITS America historic meeting welcomes industry leaders
    June 1, 2015
    Welcome to ITS America’s 25th Annual Meeting Anniversary in Pittsburgh! This historic silver anniversary brings together more than 2,000 of the nation’s top transportation and technology policymakers, business leaders, engineers, investors and researchers. The event’s theme – Bridges to Innovation – is appropriate in that the issues to be discussed and debated and the technologies on display are representative of how important ITS is to America’s – and the world’s – transportation future.