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Air Traffic Controllers

	Median Wage (USD, 2025)	Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)	Projected Growth (2025-2035)
National Statistics	$148080	2200	1.2%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$148080

Median Wage (USD, 2025)

2200

Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)

1.2%

Projected Growth (2025-2035)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
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.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

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

Detailed Work Activities

Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Monitor vehicle movement or location.
Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
Respond to transportation emergencies.
Direct vehicle traffic.
Coordinate flight control or management activities.
Adjust routes or speeds as necessary.
Direct emergency management activities.
Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
Compile operational data.
Operate communications equipment or systems.
Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans.
Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
Plan flight operations.
Review documents or materials for compliance with policies or regulations.
Record operational details of travel.
Train transportation or material moving personnel.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.
Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft.
Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers.
Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace.
Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, or observations.
Relay air traffic information, such as courses, altitudes, or expected arrival times, to control centers.
Conduct pre-flight briefings on weather conditions, suggested routes, altitudes, indications of turbulence, or other flight safety information.
Inspect, adjust, or control radio equipment or airport lights.
Analyze factors such as weather reports, fuel requirements, or maps to determine air routes.
Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.
Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers.
Review records or reports for clarity and completeness and maintain records or reports, as required under federal law.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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