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Career overview · SOC 53-2021

Air Traffic Controllers

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.

Also called: Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) · Air Traffic Controller (ATC) · Center Air Traffic Controller (Center ATC) · Certified Professional Controller (CPC) · Control Tower Operator · Enroute Air Traffic Controller (Enroute ATC)

Median pay (national)
$144,580
$76,090–$210,410 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
22,400
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.2%
~2,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
Associate's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for air traffic controllers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $210,410 versus $76,090 at the bottom 10% — 2.8x. The median of $144,580 leaves roughly 46% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.2% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 2,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 47 states with released data, Virginia pays the most for this role (median $185,890, +29% vs the national median), while District of Columbia sits lowest at $35,940 — a 417% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Learning
  • Writing
  • Learning Strategies
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
  • Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
  • Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft.
  • Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers.
  • Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.
  • Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
  • Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
  • Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
  • Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
  • Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.

Tools & technology

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • SAP software
  • Advanced technologies and oceanic procedures ATOP
  • Automated radar terminal systems ARTS
  • Center TRACON automation systems CTAS
  • Direct-to-tool software
  • En route descent advisor EDA
  • Expedite departure path EDP software
  • Final approach spacing tool FAST
  • Flight simulation software
  • Multi-center traffic management advisor McTMA
  • Really Simple Syndication RSS
  • Traffic management advisor TMA software

Knowledge areas

  • Transportation
  • English Language
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Education and Training
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Geography
  • Telecommunications
  • Mathematics