Headline risk
8%
Low RiskAir traffic controllers
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 144,580
Employment 2024
24.1K
Projected Change (2024–34)
1.2%
Openings (2024–34)
2.2K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of air traffic controllers is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems. AI use: 0%
- 2. Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references. AI use: 0%
- 3. Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety. AI use: 0%
- 4. Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties. AI use: 0%
- 5. Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information. AI use: 0%
- 6. Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 39.4 · 93K employed
Under 25: 9% · 25–54: 74% · 55+: 17%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
major_group_fallback · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Air traffic controllers coordinate the movement of aircraft to maintain safe distances between them.
Air traffic controllers work in control towers, approach control facilities, or en route centers. Their work can be stressful because maximum concentration is required at all times. Night, weekend, and rotating shifts are common.
There are several paths to becoming an air traffic controller. Candidates typically need an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree from the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program, several years of progressively responsible work experience, or a combination of education and experience. They also must be a U.S. citizen, submit to medical and background checks, and complete training at Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) academy.
The median annual wage for air traffic controllers was $144,580 in May 2024.
Employment of air traffic controllers is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.