Air Traffic Controllers Career, Salary and Skills
Air Traffic Controllers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $148,080 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 22,510. Wage data is published for 79 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
53-2021.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$148,080
Hourly median
$71.19
Employment
22,510
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.38 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 4.25 | 3.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.50 |
| Coordination | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Time Management | 3.50 | 3.50 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Advanced technologies and oceanic procedures ATOP
- Automated radar terminal systems ARTS
- Center TRACON automation systems CTAS
- Direct-to-tool software
- En route descent advisor EDA
- Expedite departure path EDP software
- Final approach spacing tool FAST
- Flight simulation software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Air Traffic Controllers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in CAMedian $160,080 · Employment 2,290
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in TXMedian $170,080 · Employment 2,060
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in FLMedian $147,530 · Employment 1,950
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in Washington, DCMedian $174,870 · Employment 1,800
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in NYMedian $144,960 · Employment 1,150
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in VAMedian $191,820 · Employment 1,120
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in ILMedian $181,560 · Employment 990
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in GAMedian $178,420 · Employment 970
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $189,780 · Employment 850
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in DCMedian $47,760 · Employment 820
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $186,640 · Employment 810
- Air Traffic Controllers Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $186,510 · Employment 800
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- Aircraft Service AttendantsNational median $40,450
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.