# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/air-traffic-controllers
- SOC code: 53-2021.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $148,080 (10th percentile $78,420, 90th percentile $215,610)
- Projected growth: Slower than average, +1.7%
- Openings a year: 2,100
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CRE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 59 |
| Investigative (I) | 24 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 28 |
| Enterprising (E) | 55 |
| Conventional (C) | 67 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 96/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 90/100)
- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 81/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 80/100)
- Processing Information (importance 80/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 78/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 75/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 73/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Coordination, Active Learning, Reading Comprehension, Time Management

## Knowledge

Transportation, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service, Geography, Telecommunications, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics, Law and Government

## Also called

Air Route Controller, Air Route Traffic Controller, Air Traffic Control Operator, Air Traffic Coordinator, Aircraft Communicator, Airport Tower Controller, Airport Traffic Controller, Airway Controller, Airway Traffic Controller, Airways Control Specialist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Air Transportation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4901) (CIP 4901, 253 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Utah Valley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-valley-university-3103) | Air Transportation | $70,419 | $106,001 | $20,375 |
| [University of North Dakota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-dakota-2996) | Air Transportation | $59,101 | $104,472 | $25,250 |
| [Utah State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-state-university-3102) | Air Transportation | $43,591 | $103,989 | $24,375 |
| [Minnesota State University-Mankato](https://www.collegesref.com/college/minnesota-state-university-mankato-1721) | Air Transportation | $57,213 | $103,858 | $21,500 |
| [Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/eastern-new-mexico-university-main-campus-872) | Air Transportation | $91,027 | $103,617 | $19,143 |
| [Liberty University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/liberty-university-1481) | Air Transportation | $77,466 | $102,096 | $20,500 |
| [Ohio University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ohio-university-main-campus-2008) | Air Transportation | $56,127 | $99,701 | $25,000 |
| [Middle Georgia State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/middle-georgia-state-university-1687) | Air Transportation | $53,459 | $93,627 | $19,035 |

## Related careers

- [Airfield Operations Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/airfield-operations-specialists): $56,850 median pay
- [Commercial Pilots](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/commercial-pilots): $123,220 median pay
- [Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/airline-pilots-copilots-and-flight-engineers): $232,140 median pay
- [Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-conductors-and-yardmasters): $78,000 median pay
- [Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aircraft-cargo-handling-supervisors): $58,170 median pay
- [Traffic Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/traffic-technicians): $59,090 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.