Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Sr Ramp Controller
Indianapolis, IN · On-site
Must possess FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) License/Credentials, or FAA Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) Certificate, or Airport/Airline Ramp Tower Operator Certificate can satisfy the bachelor ...
Sr Ramp Controller
Indianapolis, IN · On-site
Must possess FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) License/Credentials, or FAA Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) Certificate, or Airport/Airline Ramp Tower Operator Certificate can satisfy the bachelor ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Sr Ramp Controller
Indianapolis, IN · On-site
Must possess FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) License/Credentials, or FAA Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) Certificate, or Airport/Airline Ramp Tower Operator Certificate can satisfy the bachelor ...
Sr Ramp Controller
Indianapolis, IN · On-site
Must possess FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) License/Credentials, or FAA Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) Certificate, or Airport/Airline Ramp Tower Operator Certificate can satisfy the bachelor ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
Houston, TX · On-site
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
Houston, TX · On-site
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Quick apply
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Sr Ramp Controller
Indianapolis, IN · On-site
Must possess FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) License/Credentials, or FAA Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) Certificate, or Airport/Airline Ramp Tower Operator Certificate can satisfy the bachelor ...
Sr Ramp Controller
Indianapolis, IN · On-site
Must possess FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) License/Credentials, or FAA Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) Certificate, or Airport/Airline Ramp Tower Operator Certificate can satisfy the bachelor ...
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
Houston, TX · On-site
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. • Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
Houston, TX · On-site
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. • Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Quick apply
Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower. * The position is subject to drug and/or ...
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. • Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. • Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
Martinsburg, WV · On-site
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. * Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
Martinsburg, WV · On-site
Function as a sole tower operator with all Air Traffic Control performance requirements. Perform all basic weather watch functions during assigned shifts. * Operate Tower positions of Local Control ...
Control Tower Operator information
See salary details
$14.90 - $15.60
3% of jobs
$15.60 - $16.30
9% of jobs
$16.30 - $17
10% of jobs
$17.18 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$17 - $17.70
10% of jobs
$17.70 - $18.40
10% of jobs
$18.40 - $19.10
6% of jobs
The median wage is $19.17 / hr.
$19.10 - $19.80
10% of jobs
$19.80 - $20.50
10% of jobs
$20.88 is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$20.50 - $21.20
10% of jobs
$21.20 - $21.90
10% of jobs
$21.90 - $22.60
10% of jobs
$14
$19
$22
How much do control tower operator jobs pay per hour?
What is a control tower operator?
What does a control tower operator do?
As a control tower operator or air traffic controller, you coordinate a variety of land and air vehicles in the air, on taxiways, and on runways. In this career, you spend the majority of your work day in the control tower, where you oversee the airplanes and other traffic you control. You are responsible for verifying flight plans, as well as giving takeoff and landing clearance orders to pilots. Control tower operators are regulated and managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as you are responsible for the safety of commercial and private aircraft within the United States and international airspace under U.S. control.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a control tower operator, and why are they important?
What are the most common challenges faced by a control tower operator, and how can they be managed effectively?
What is the difference between Control Tower Operator vs Air Traffic Controller?
| Aspect | Control Tower Operator | Air Traffic Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Required Certifications | FAA Control Tower Certification, FCC Radio License | FAA Air Traffic Control Certification |
| Work Environment | Airport control towers, ground operations | Airspace, airport towers, en-route sectors |
| Employer & Industry Usage | Airports, airline ground services | FAA, military, commercial airlines |
Control Tower Operators primarily manage ground and airport surface movements, ensuring safety on runways and taxiways. Air Traffic Controllers oversee aircraft in the airspace, managing takeoffs, landings, and en-route traffic. While both roles require FAA certification and work in airport environments, Control Tower Operators focus on ground operations, whereas Air Traffic Controllers handle airborne traffic control.
How to get a job as a control tower operator?
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The top employers for Control Tower Operator jobs are:
What states have the most Control Tower Operator jobs?
States with the most job openings for Control Tower Operator jobs include:
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For Control Tower Operator jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Air Traffic Controller - McCollum Tower - Kennesaw GA
Kennesaw, GA • On-site
Other
This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.
Job description
Responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic control duties in a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Airport Traffic Control Tower.
DIMENSIONS OF POSITIONWorks under the general supervision of the tower manager who relies on the incumbent to perform established duties independently. On new or revised procedures, the manager gives detailed instructions and observes and checks work, during or immediately after completion, according to the complexity of the task until satisfied the incumbent can perform it independently.
REQUIREMENTS- Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller.
- Individuals must have a current or previous Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) Certificate and a current Class II Medical Certificate.
- Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower.
- The position is subject to drug and/or alcohol testing per the DOT/FAA requirements (pre-employment, random, reasonable cause/suspicion, post-accident).
Making decisions involving:
- The order of departures will ensure all aircraft equitable treatment and will ensure that departing Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flights operate at the fixed altitude, and the time designated by the center or approach control clearances.
- The times and direction of takeoff and any turn necessary after departure.
- Whether inbound aircraft is to land immediately or circle and whether distances are lengthened to control the arrival of an aircraft at a given point.
- The active runway and possible simultaneous use of other runways.
- The time and methods by which arrivals and departures can be interspersed with the least delay to traffic.
- When landing and departing, aircraft are cleared to use the runways to ensure standard separation between aircraft on the runways.
- The sequence of arriving traffic, before it enters the traffic pattern, to ensure a safe, orderly flow of aircraft on the final approach to the landing runway.
- Endure that Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) separation standards are applied, as delegated by approach control or the center, in limited areas around the airport to provide initial separation between IFR arrivals and IFR departures and between successive IFR departures.
- The sequence of Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) traffic, and when delegated, using radar equipment to provide initial separation for arrival verse arrival and arrival verse departure IFR traffic.
- When Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flights through the Class D airspace can be authorized.
Determines the usability of communications frequencies and other navigational aids used to control air traffic. Monitors navigational aids and control panels, including tower radar display, to determine the acceptability of its alignment and display presentation. Instructs pilots to change radio frequencies/transponder codes.
- When appropriate, coordinate with other controllers on the movement of both arrival and departure aircraft.
- When traffic conditions warrant, controllers in non-approach terminals are responsible for:
- Preplanning traffic sequencing and separation over an area, which may reach out to a radius of 5 miles or more.
- Preplanning and setting up checkpoints required to ensure the maintenance of necessary traffic separation.
- Maintaining a continuous mental picture and evaluation of constantly changing traffic, frequency dispersed throughout his/her area of jurisdictional responsibility.
- Maintaining continuous radio watch with aircraft that have previously contacted the facility.
- Studies weather reports and forecasts, obtain LAWRS/SAWRS weather certification, observes weather from the tower, and records pilot reports to determine the effect of present and anticipated weather on traffic; furnishes aircraft with information such as field conditions, altimeter settings, weather conditions, operating status of navigational aids, and observed malfunctioning of aircraft; forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather reports and reports based upon personal observation of weather conditions; operate light guns, runway lights, field lighting, jet barriers, etc.
- Orients pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may develop into an emergency; and notifies airlines operations offices, airport management offices, and airport rescue and firefighting services.
- Performs lower grade level duties as necessary to meet operational requirements and proficiency maintenance.
- Provides On-the-job (OJT) training to others.
About CI2 Aviation
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