Occupation salary profile

Air Traffic Controllers

SOC 53-2021 BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

National median · BLS
$148,080
▲ +2.42% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$146,490
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
22,510
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Air Traffic Controllers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$78,420
25th$104,520
Median (50th)$148,080
75th$190,570
90th — top pay$215,610

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Air Traffic Controllers

BLS projects employment of air traffic controllers to grow 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,100 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
24,000 → 24,400
+400 jobs
Projected change
+1.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
2,100
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need an associate's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Air Traffic Controllers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Active Listening4.4
  • Speaking4.3
  • Critical Thinking4.1
  • Judgment and Decision Making4.1
  • Complex Problem Solving4.0
  • Monitoring4.0
  • Coordination3.9
  • Active Learning3.8
  • Reading Comprehension3.8
  • Time Management3.5
Top knowledge areas
  • Transportation4.2
  • English Language3.9
  • Public Safety and Security3.8
  • Education and Training3.8
  • Customer and Personal Service3.6
  • Geography3.5
  • Telecommunications3.4
  • Mathematics3.3
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointAdobe AcrobatMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft WordSAP softwareAdvanced technologies and oceanic procedures ATOPAutomated radar terminal systems ARTSCenter TRACON automation systems CTASDirect-to-tool softwareEn route descent advisor EDAExpedite departure path EDP softwareFinal approach spacing tool FASTFlight simulation softwareMulti-center traffic management advisor McTMAReally Simple Syndication RSS

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: 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.

About the job

What air traffic controllers do

  • 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.
Also called
ATCS (Air Traffic Control Specialist)Certified Professional Controller (CPC)Terminal Radar Approach ControllerTower ATC (Tower Air Traffic Controller)Center ATC (Center Air Traffic Controller)Developmental Air Traffic ControllerDevelopmental ATCS (Developmental Air Traffic Control Specialist)Enroute ATCS (Enroute Air Traffic Control Specialist)Radar Air Traffic ControllerTerminal ATC Specialist (Terminal Air Traffic Control Specialist)
More job titles for this occupation (23)
Air Route ControllerAir Route Traffic ControllerAir Traffic Control OperatorAir Traffic CoordinatorAircraft CommunicatorAirport Tower ControllerAirport Traffic ControllerAirway ControllerAirway Traffic ControllerAirways Control SpecialistAirways Operations SpecialistATC Support Specialist (Air Traffic Control Support Specialist)Enroute ControllerFlight Control SpecialistFlight ControllerFlight DispatcherFlight Radio OfficerFlight Radio OperatorFlight Service SpecialistSignal Tower OperatorTower Air Traffic Control SpecialistTower Control OperatorTraffic Control Specialist

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.