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Airfield Operations Specialists

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Ensure the safe takeoff and landing of commercial and military aircraft. Duties include coordination between air-traffic control and maintenance personnel, dispatching, using airfield landing and navigational aids, implementing airfield safety procedures, monitoring and maintaining flight records, and applying knowledge of weather information.

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 $56,850 Median per year · $27.33/hr Most earn $35,870–$102,120

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.
  • Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.
  • Coordinate communications between air traffic control and maintenance personnel.
  • Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds.
  • Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.
  • Inspect airfield conditions to ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements.

Job outlook

United States
8% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 1,500 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

  • Scheduled air transportation35.1%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals24.4%
  • Support activities for air transportation19.9%
  • Nonscheduled air transportation6.5%
  • Couriers and express delivery services2.2%

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

Career path

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

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Airfield Operations Specialist is not usually a straight-out-of-school job. Most people finish a bachelor's degree and then spend about 6 months to 1 year in an airport or aviation role before moving into this career.

  1. Bachelor's degree in aviation management, aviation operations, or a related field

    4 years

    A degree gives you the broad knowledge of aviation, safety, and airport systems that employers expect for this job.

  2. Airport Operations Agent

    6 months to 1 year

    You learn how an airfield runs day to day, including safety rules, airfield inspections, and working with pilots, dispatchers, and maintenance crews.

  3. Airfield Operations Specialist

    Ongoing

    You keep aircraft movement areas safe by coordinating with air traffic control and maintenance, monitoring flight records, using airfield navigation aids, and applying weather information.

Where it can lead

  1. Airfield Operations Supervisor

    A few years as a Airfield Operations Specialist of experience first

    You take charge of a shift or team, make safety decisions, train newer staff, and handle more of the coordination between air traffic control and maintenance.

  2. Aviation Inspector

    4 to 6 years of experience first

    You check that airports and operators follow safety regulations, which usually requires strong experience in airfield operations and often formal certification.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math, physics, and computer classesPhysics helps you understand how aircraft and weather work, and math and computer skills are used for flight records and planning.
  • Take English and speech classesClear, calm communication matters a lot when you coordinate with pilots, controllers, and maintenance staff.
  • Join a STEM, robotics, or aviation-related clubTeam projects teach you to follow safety steps and work together under deadlines, which matches airfield work.
  • Look for a summer or weekend job at an airport, airline, or hangar if one is availableEven a basic job lets you see how airfield operations run and gives you work experience early.
  • Learn the basics of weather and mapsReading weather forecasts and maps builds the habit of using weather information, a core skill in this career.

In college

  • Major in aviation management or aviation operationsThese majors cover airport systems, aviation safety, and regulations that directly support this career.
  • Take courses in meteorology, safety management, and data or records managementWeather knowledge, safety procedures, and accurate flight records are all central parts of the job.
  • Get an internship at an airport or with an aviation companyInternships give you real airfield experience and help you meet the 6 months to 1 year of related work most employers want.
  • Take a part-time campus or airport jobWork at a campus airport, flight school, or ground service company builds the hands-on experience that employers look for.
  • Join an aviation or airport student clubClubs offer networking, guest speakers, and chances to learn from people already working in airfield operations.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask an airport or airline if you can shadow an operations team or tour the airfield control area. Seeing the job up close helps you decide if it fits you.
  • Get comfortable with weather reports, charts, and written records now. Accurate paperwork and quick weather reading are everyday parts of this job.
  • Look for airport jobs that start with the ground crew or operations desk. These entry jobs are a common way to gain the experience employers ask for.

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 Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $54,072 a year · typical debt $21,136

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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