Air Traffic Controllers

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics · Transportation Systems/Infrastructure Planning, Management and Regulation

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 53-2021.00

Pay and outlook shown for

median pay per year, Texas (no San Antonio figure is published for this career)

$90k10th$170kMedian$222k90th

New workers start near $90,420; experienced workers reach $222,230. About 2,060 people do this job in Texas.

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

Employment change: +1%; nationwide
Openings a year: 2,200; nationwide, from growth and people leaving
Employed in 2024: 24,100; nationwide

Typical entry education: Associate's degree · Training: Long-term on-the-job training

Alamo Colleges programs that lead here

No program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

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Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

Active Listening4.0
Speaking3.9
Critical Thinking4.1
Judgment and Decision Making4.1
Complex Problem Solving4.5
Monitoring4.3
Coordination4.0
Reading Comprehension4.0

What the work is

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.

Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

High school or less38%
Certificate21%
Some college6%
Associate degree14%
Bachelor's degree22%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

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