Also called: ATC
Guides airplanes safely through the sky and on runways by radio and radar.
You might handle 20 aircraft at once in a dark radar room, sequencing them for landing with calm, quick instructions. Breaks are mandatory because the focus is intense.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. FAA Academy training; candidates usually need an FAA-approved degree program or prior experience, and must start before age 31.
Ways in: 2-year college, Military, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Air Traffic Management, Aviation.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI tools help sequence flights and spot conflicts; FAA's slow, safety-first upgrades keep licensed controllers in charge.
Classes: Geography, Math, Physics, Speech or debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-2021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.