Transportation & Logistics
Air Traffic Controllers
Also called: ATCS (Air Traffic Control Specialist), Center ATC (Center Air Traffic Controller), Certified Professional Controller (CPC), Developmental Air Traffic Controller
US median pay
$148,080
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+1.7%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
2,100
24,000 employed
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
What they do day to day
- Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
- Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
- Monitor, direct, or sequence the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
- Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
- Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.
- Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
- Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
- Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
- Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
- Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Time Management3.5/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4/5
- Systems Analysis3.2/5
- Operations Monitoring3.2/5
- Systems Evaluation3.1/5
Knowledge
- Transportation4.2/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Public Safety and Security3.8/5
- Education and Training3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.6/5
- Geography3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Associate's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma36%
- Post-secondary certificate21%
- Bachelor's degree20%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.