Also called: Capsule Communicator
The one voice in Mission Control that talks directly to astronauts in space.
You relay instructions and news to the crew, translating a room full of engineering chatter into calm, clear words. CAPCOMs are often astronauts or highly experienced flight controllers.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Engineering or science degree plus flight controller or astronaut experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Aerospace Engineering, Physics.
Growing about average. Small field not tracked separately by BLS; grows with mission count.
Low risk for 10 years. AI can't replace the trusted human voice talking astronauts through problems; very few of these jobs exist.
Classes: Speech or debate, AP Physics, Psychology, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2011.
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.