Air Traffic Controllers

Career Overview

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 Known As

• Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS)
• Air Traffic Controller (ATC)
• Certified Professional Controller (CPC)
• Enroute Air Traffic Controller (Enroute ATC)

Alternate Job Titles

• Access Control Specialist
• Air Route Controller
• Air Route Traffic Controller
• Air Traffic Control Operator
• Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS)
• Air Traffic Control Support Specialist (ATC Support Specialist)
• Air Traffic Controller (ATC)
• Air Traffic Coordinator
• Air Traffic Manager
• Aircraft Communicator
• Airline Dispatcher
• Airport Tower Controller
• Airport Traffic Controller
• Airway Controller
• Airway Traffic Controller

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
• Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
• 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.
• Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
• 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.

Emerging Responsibilities

As this field evolves, you may also:

• 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.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

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

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Active Listening
2. Speaking
3. Critical Thinking
4. Judgment and Decision Making
5. Monitoring
6. Complex Problem Solving
7. Coordination
8. Reading Comprehension
9. Active Learning

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Problem Sensitivity
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Selective Attention
• Deductive Reasoning
• Speed of Closure
• Inductive Reasoning
• Flexibility of Closure
• Far Vision
• Near Vision

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Self-Control
• Cautiousness
• Stress Tolerance
• Attention to Detail
• Dependability

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Support
• Working Conditions
• Independence
• Achievement
• Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• SAP software

Tools & Equipment

• Air route surveillance radar ARSR systems
• Airport surface detection equipment ASDE systems
• Airport surveillance radar ASR systems
• Area navigation RNAV systems
• Automatic direction finder ADF radio systems
• Binoculars
• Controller pilot datalink communication CPDC systems
• Desktop computers
• Differential global positioning system DGPS surveillance systems
• Digital airport surveillance radar DASR systems
• Distance measuring equipment DME
• Flight simulators
• Frequency modulation FM two way radios
• Global positioning system GPS surveillance systems
• High frequency HF radio communications systems

Work Environment

• Frequency of Decision Making
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$76,090
Median	$144,580
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$210,410

Workers Employed Nationally: 22,400

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.