Occupations/53-2021.00
Air Traffic Controllers
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.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
71%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
74%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
85%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
- Task
Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
- Task
Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
- 02Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
- 03Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
- 04Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
- 05Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
- 06Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks4.67
- Degree of automation3.58
- Time sitting4.44
- Originality (ability)3.38
- Conflict situations4.40
- Hands-on objects/tools4.17
- Outdoors / weather1.13
- Disease exposure1.28
- Decision freedom4.29
Top abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.75
- Oral Expression4.62
- Oral Comprehension4.62
- Selective Attention4.50
- Deductive Reasoning4.38
- Speed of Closure4.25
- Inductive Reasoning4.25
- Flexibility of Closure4.25
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.75
- Active Listening4.38
- Writing3.12
- Speaking4.25
- Mathematics2.88
- Science1.75
- Critical Thinking4.12
- Active Learning3.75
- Learning Strategies3.12
- Monitoring4.00
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 13 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $9,700 | 71% | 62% | 1 yr $55,061 2 yr $51,106 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
North Dakota State University Fargo, ND · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $10,900 | 96% | 68% | 1 yr $51,035 2 yr $43,368 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $47,494 2 yr $41,789 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr $46,478 2 yr $41,937 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $2,900 | 100% | 41% | 1 yr $42,774 2 yr — Associate · CIP 49.01 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $12,800 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $41,342 2 yr $46,869 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $5,900 | 100% | 28% | 1 yr — 2 yr $40,368 Associate · CIP 49.01 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $12,000 | 90% | 69% | 1 yr $40,017 2 yr $38,072 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
St Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $9,600 | 95% | 56% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $6,000 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Associate · CIP 49.01 |
South Dakota State University Brookings, SD · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $9,600 | 99% | 66% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |