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Air Traffic Controllers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $148,080 Median per year · $71.19/hr Most earn $78,420–$215,610

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.
  • Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 2,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service91.7%
  • Support activities for air transportation4.5%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Air traffic controller is not usually a straight-from-school job. Most people spend some time in a related airport role and then complete formal training before working on their own. Expect the whole route to take a few years.

  1. High school diploma or equivalent

    4 years

    Build a strong base in math, English, and science, which support the quick thinking and clear communication this job needs.

  2. Airfield Operations Specialist

    6 months to 1 year

    Work on the airfield to learn how airport operations, radio calls, and safety rules fit together, which prepares you for controller training.

  3. Air Traffic Controller

    Varies by employer and training program

    Complete government-run screening, a medical exam, and formal training before controlling traffic, starting with supervised work on the job.

Where it can lead

  1. Air Traffic Supervisor

    Several years as a fully certified controller of experience first

    You oversee other controllers, handle schedules, and step in on difficult traffic situations, which takes strong leadership and a deep knowledge of procedures.

  2. Aviation Inspector

    4 to 6 years of experience first

    You check that airlines, airports, and controllers follow aviation rules, which shifts your focus from running traffic to checking and enforcing safety standards.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physicsThese classes build the spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills used to track several aircraft at once.
  • Join a JROTC or aviation-related clubMany schools have these groups, and they teach discipline, teamwork, and basic aviation knowledge.
  • Strengthen your speaking skillsJoining debate, public speaking, or drama helps you give short, clear instructions, which is the core of radio communication.
  • Get a part-time job that requires quick decisionsA job such as a restaurant shift lead or store cashier during busy hours helps you practice staying calm and organized.
  • Look for local aviation eventsVisiting an airport open house or a local aviation museum shows you what the work looks like day to day.

In college

  • Take aviation or air traffic management coursesIf your school offers aviation, aerospace, or transportation courses, they teach airspace rules and aviation safety that employers look for.
  • Seek an internship at an airport or aviation agencyHands-on experience at an airport or with an aviation organization builds the related work experience this career usually asks for.
  • Take a campus job that involves dispatch or communicationRoles such as campus dispatcher, front desk coordinator, or student radio staff build the clear, fast communication skills controllers use daily.
  • Consider a private pilot ground school courseLearning how aircraft move through the sky gives you a practical understanding of what controllers manage.
  • Stay on top of the hiring rulesTrack the official application windows and requirements so you can apply on time, since missing one can delay your plans.

Tips for getting started

  • Check the official age, medical, and citizenship requirements early, since some of them can limit when and how you can apply.
  • Practice staying calm and clear when things get busy, such as in debate, team sports, or a customer service job, because controllers must stay focused under pressure.
  • Learn basic aviation vocabulary and how airspace works through library books, free online courses, or a local aviation club, so training feels familiar when you start.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Air Transportation Certificate: typical pay 1 year after finishing $32,236 a year · typical debt $8,750

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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