Also called: Airport Manager, Executive Director of Aviation, Airport CEO
Runs an entire airport as a business and a public facility: budgets, airlines, construction, security, and community relations.
Your morning might be a meeting with an airline about adding new routes, then a walk through a terminal construction project. In the afternoon you brief the city council on noise complaints and the budget. If a blizzard or emergency hits, you're in the command center.
Estimated; small regional airports pay closer to $90k, big-hub directors can earn $400k+.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 12 years after high school. Bachelor's in aviation management, business, or public administration; many earn the AAAE Accredited Airport Executive credential after years in airport operations.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Aviation Management, Public Administration, Business Administration.
Growing about average. Few positions, filled from experienced airport managers.
Low risk for 10 years. AI forecasts traffic and budgets; dealing with airlines, the FAA, politicians and neighbors stays human.
Classes: Business, Government, Speech.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-1021.
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.