Career Explorer Transport and logistics
Changing shape
Air traffic controllers
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.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 52% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +1.7% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and creative vision.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $148,080
- Job growth to 2035
- +1.7%
- Openings a year
- 2,100
- People doing it (2025)
- 24,000
- Usual route in
- Associate's degree, then long on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
- Plan work activities
- Operate communications equipment or systems
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Direct vehicle traffic
- Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance
- Notify others of emergencies or problems
What the work looks like
- Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
- Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
- Monitor, direct, or sequence the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
- Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
- Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- More of these jobs, as growing air traffic volume increases the demand for air traffic controllers. This effect will be partially offset by the deployment of technologies that make air traffic management more efficient.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Forensic science techniciansHuman edge, growing, Index 87, +13.3%
- Computer and information systems managersGrows with AI, Index 61, +15.8%
- Chemical engineersGrows with AI, Index 54, +4.7%
- Commercial pilotsHuman edge, growing, Index 90, +5.2%
Also known as: ATCS (Air Traffic Control Specialist), Certified Professional Controller (CPC), Terminal Radar Approach Controller, Tower ATC (Tower Air Traffic Controller), Center ATC (Center Air Traffic Controller), Developmental Air Traffic Controller, Developmental ATCS (Developmental Air Traffic Control Specialist), Enroute ATCS (Enroute Air Traffic Control Specialist).
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.