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$33K

$101.4K

$172.5K

How much do air traffic control jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for air traffic control in the United States is $101,385.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,000.00 and $135,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is air traffic control?

Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air to ensure safe and orderly flow of air traffic. Air traffic controllers monitor and communicate with pilots to provide instructions for takeoff, landing, and flight paths, helping to prevent collisions and manage aircraft efficiently. Their work is critical for maintaining safety in the skies, especially around busy airports and congested airspace. ATC also assists with rerouting aircraft in response to weather, emergencies, or changing flight conditions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an air traffic controller?

To thrive as an Air Traffic Controller, you need excellent spatial awareness, strong decision-making skills, and must meet rigorous educational and certification requirements, such as passing the FAA Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative or equivalent. Familiarity with radar systems, radio communication protocols, and flight-tracking software is essential for managing air traffic safely. Outstanding communication, stress management, and multitasking abilities distinguish top performers in this high-pressure role. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring the safe and efficient flow of air traffic and minimizing risks in complex airspace environments.

What qualifications do I need to be an air traffic controller?

To become an air traffic controller, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree or higher, pass a series of FAA or relevant authority exams, and complete specialized training at an approved facility. Strong communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work under pressure are essential, along with meeting medical and background requirements.

How do you become an air traffic controller?

To become an air traffic controller, candidates typically need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, pass medical and background checks, and complete specialized training through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or relevant authority. This training includes classroom instruction, simulation exercises, and on-the-job training, and often requires passing a series of exams and obtaining certification. Strong communication, decision-making skills, and the ability to work under pressure are essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between Air Traffic Control vs Air Traffic Management?

AspectAir Traffic ControlAir Traffic Management
CertificationsFAA or equivalent radar and communication certificationsSimilar certifications, with additional focus on planning and coordination
Work EnvironmentControl towers, radar facilities, en-route centersAirports, regional planning offices, strategic coordination centers
Employer & Industry UsageAirlines, airports, government agenciesAirports, airlines, aviation authorities
Job FocusDirectly managing aircraft movements in real-timeOverseeing broader air traffic flow and strategic planning

While both roles are essential in aviation safety, Air Traffic Control focuses on real-time aircraft movement management, whereas Air Traffic Management involves strategic planning and coordination of air traffic flow across regions.

Is it hard to get an air traffic control job?

Becoming an air traffic controller is competitive and requires passing rigorous testing, medical exams, and background checks. Candidates typically need a bachelor's degree, relevant training, and certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the job involves high stress and responsibility, making it a challenging career to enter.

What are some common challenges faced by air traffic controllers during high-traffic periods?

Air Traffic Controllers often encounter significant challenges during peak traffic periods, such as maintaining situational awareness amid a high volume of simultaneous flights. They must quickly process and prioritize information, communicate clearly with multiple pilots, and coordinate with other controllers to ensure safety and efficiency. Stress management and decisive problem-solving are crucial, as split-second decisions can have a major impact. Teamwork and adherence to established protocols help manage these high-pressure situations effectively.
More about Air Traffic Control jobs
What cities are hiring for Air Traffic Control jobs? Cities with the most Air Traffic Control job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Air Traffic Control jobs? The most popular types of Air Traffic Control jobs are:
What states have the most Air Traffic Control jobs? States with the most job openings for Air Traffic Control jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Air Traffic Control jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Air Traffic Control jobs are:
Air Traffic Control jobs near you
Infographic showing various Air Traffic Control job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,385 per year, or $48.7 per hour.

Air Traffic Control Specialist

Federal Aviation Administration

Washington, DC • On-site

$95K - $148K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Re-posted 18 days ago

Federal Aviation Administration rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 153 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

65th of 289 rated public sector bodies

Job description

Summary
Air Traffic Services provides safe, secure, and efficient management for the National Airspace System (NAS) and international airspace assigned to U.S. control. AJT controls more than 5 million square miles of airspace in the U.S. and more than 24 million square miles over oceans. A
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Duties
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The Air Traffic Control Specialist performs complex, specialized air traffic control assignments. Collaborates with support organizations to ensure AJT operational awareness. He/she will interface with officials from all levels including Service Area and Service Center personnel, teams of people from internal and external organizations to accomplish assigned tasks and objectives. As an authority on air traffic automation systems, he/she possesses knowledge of NAS requirements to provide input, as needed, to support organizations. He/she will be involved in the development of procedures and requirements, integration of technology, and air traffic control separation and operational standards for the control of air traffic throughout the NAS to ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious movement along air routes and at airports.
Monitors the standardization of air traffic control procedures and standards throughout the NAS. Conducts assessment and reviews of EnRoute and/or terminal automation systems to provide a complete synopsis to superiors, peers, field facilities and customers. Applies operational test experience and expert technical knowledge, to participate in the development of new systems. Ensure timely and quality support services of products provided to AJT and redirects correspondence and tasks to appropriate support organizations, when needed.
Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of air traffic control procedures and operations as well as FAA programs, regulations, and missions. Must also apply comprehensive knowledge of staff programs (e.g., procedures, traffic management, quality assurance, training, automation) to carry out regional or national programs. Interprets and implements air traffic control operating procedures, separation standards, equipment technologies, and systems, such as ERAM automation system. Acts as principal technical specialist verifying/developing automation requirements. Participates in the development of national standards, instructions, policies, and procedures to effectively implement automation requirements in the terminal environment.
Provides technical analysis of proposed operational changes, problems and issues that impact the operational environment. The employee is responsible for managing complex programs and activities, and ensures consistency and operational standardization across the operations. Uses expertise in air traffic management to provide advice to the Director and other senior staff members regarding the assessment/analysis of proposed policies and programs related to the development, acquisition, and deployment of Enroute and Terminal automation. Applies acquisition management system protocols for integration of new automation systems into the NAS.
Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of air traffic control procedures and operations as well as FAA programs, regulations, and missions, in order to provide policy guidance consistent with established operational goals and objectives. Possesses an understanding of FAA acquisition management policy to assists with systems analysis and strategic planning to operational concepts, reduce risk, and/or define requirements before a decision is made to proceed in the acquisition management process. Broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for completing work objectives but allow considerable discretion to develop new or innovative approaches. Draws on experience and knowledge to solve unusual problems.
Contacts are internal and external, to include with NAS customers, other ATO organizations, and external lines of business on a day-today basis. Represents air traffic operational interests effectively with other organizations.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).

Qualifications
To view the complete qualification standard, applicants should reference- U.S. Office of Personnel Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Air Traffic Control Series, 2152:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2100/air-traffic-control-series-2152/
To qualify for this position at the J-band you must demonstrate in your application that you have experience as an air traffic controller in a military or civilian air traffic facility that demonstrated possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the level of work of the specialization for which application is made. This experience must have provided a comprehensive knowledge of appropriate air traffic control laws, rules and regulations. Creditable experience must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the full range of duties of the position for which application is being made.
To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I / FG/GS-13. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
Specialized experience is: Experience interpreting air traffic control operating procedures, separation standards, equipment technologies, and systems, such as STARS or ERAM automation systems.
Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their work history.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
Interview Policy: If the selecting official decides to interview any employee on the selection list for a vacancy, then all who remain under consideration for the position at that point in the process must be interviewed. If the selection list is shortened to a best qualified list through a comparative process, then the best qualified list shall be considered to be the selection list.
Pay Retention: In accordance with HRPM. EMP 1.29/1.29A, this position may be Career Enhancement Assignment/Career Progression. The selectee( s) may be eligible for pay retention. Career Diversity is not enhanced when an employee is assigned to a staff or supervisory position in which they previously held on a permanent basis. CEP/CP selectees will be required to certify eligibility.
Selections to be made in AJT-1310, AJT-1320, AJT-1410, and AJT-1420.
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Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.
Additional information
We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements
In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.
Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the KSAs listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical order and referred to the selecting official for consideration.
Position is not eligible for "good time" for ATC retirement purposes.
Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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