53
Air Traffic Controllers is a notable career in the 53 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Air Traffic Controllers against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 53-2021 |
| title | Air Traffic Controllers |
| onet code | 53-2021.00 |
| 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. |
| job zone | 3 |
| major group | 53 |
| tot emp | 22,400 |
| a mean | 142,740 |
| a median | 144,580 |
| a pct10 | 76,090 |
| a pct25 | 101,150 |
| a pct75 | 186,510 |
| a pct90 | 210,410 |
| h mean | 68 |
| h median | 69 |
The day-to-day work of a air traffic controllers typically centers on inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Active Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.98 out of 5 — highly rated for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working air traffic controllers, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (36.1%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 20% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Virginia at $185,890 and lowest in District of Columbia at $35,940 — a 5.2× spread. The top five states (Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois, Georgia, Colorado) average $176,784. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $185,890 | $171,440 | $91,020 | $221,890 | 1,130 |
| Minnesota | $176,030 | $164,870 | $92,520 | $220,920 | 630 |
| Illinois | $175,090 | $156,590 | $75,490 | $221,890 | 1,000 |
| Georgia | $174,600 | $157,770 | $76,300 | $213,370 | 970 |
| Colorado | $172,310 | $153,010 | $74,260 | $207,130 | 780 |
| Texas | $167,710 | $155,660 | $88,310 | $219,360 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $164,070 | $150,020 | $84,120 | $209,330 | 600 |
| Kansas | $156,620 | $148,420 | $80,060 | $195,310 | 410 |
| Utah | $156,120 | $147,090 | $92,230 | $183,270 | 350 |
| Indiana | $155,790 | $142,480 | $80,680 | $197,200 | 620 |
| Tennessee | $153,670 | $144,150 | $89,860 | $195,420 | 610 |
| California | $152,010 | $152,970 | $83,570 | $221,890 | 2,260 |
| Nevada | $147,700 | $139,740 | $75,820 | $196,270 | 210 |
| New Mexico | $145,290 | $136,090 | $73,720 | $182,250 | 360 |
| Florida | $144,710 | $139,910 | $84,420 | $192,300 | 1,980 |
| New York | $142,190 | $151,270 | $70,050 | $221,890 | 1,190 |
| Hawaii | $142,040 | $139,560 | $63,710 | $200,470 | 220 |
| New Jersey | $135,470 | $142,650 | $82,860 | $208,250 | 210 |
| Arizona | $130,960 | $135,590 | $85,220 | $190,760 | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $129,310 | $136,770 | $79,280 | $211,600 | 410 |
| Kentucky | $126,550 | $121,680 | $71,140 | $165,480 | 210 |
| Rhode Island | $123,610 | $121,410 | $86,010 | $149,910 | 50 |
| Connecticut | $121,910 | $127,160 | $84,240 | $191,820 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $121,580 | $123,710 | $81,330 | $167,480 | 250 |
| North Dakota | $121,470 | $117,150 | $81,950 | $142,380 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $120,580 | $130,610 | $85,650 | $186,310 | 440 |
| Alaska | $120,370 | $125,090 | $60,400 | $184,950 | 500 |
| Idaho | $117,150 | $118,390 | $89,020 | $143,770 | 60 |
| Missouri | $115,440 | $119,520 | $84,970 | $162,700 | 240 |
| Maryland | $114,620 | $116,650 | $83,190 | $164,010 | 110 |
| Michigan | $113,650 | $130,110 | $75,430 | $202,490 | 380 |
| Oregon | $113,030 | $111,190 | $68,250 | $156,710 | 180 |
| Alabama | $112,740 | $115,750 | $78,020 | $156,980 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $108,990 | $108,150 | $79,540 | $143,640 | 70 |
| South Carolina | $107,330 | $111,060 | $81,270 | $139,400 | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $106,750 | $108,330 | $73,850 | $148,870 | 140 |
| Massachusetts | $103,230 | $121,900 | $72,390 | $193,400 | 130 |
| Louisiana | $99,670 | $106,710 | $80,180 | $147,390 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $99,490 | $89,000 | $40,500 | $130,100 | 110 |
| South Dakota | $98,530 | $96,200 | $70,260 | $117,750 | 50 |
| Iowa | $95,200 | $96,620 | $73,720 | $131,060 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $91,480 | $94,890 | $71,380 | $124,700 | 130 |
| Wyoming | $89,650 | $95,190 | $77,630 | $113,650 | 40 |
| West Virginia | $86,390 | $88,920 | $71,260 | $106,560 | 90 |
| District of Columbia | $35,940 | $77,660 | $35,940 | $192,440 | 700 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for air traffic controllers. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Access Control Specialist or Air Route Controller frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Air Traffic Controllers compares to others in the 53 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Air Traffic Controllers
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.