Air Traffic Controllers
SOC Code: 53-2021 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Air Traffic Controllers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $113,443 | $143,562 | $173,659 | $203,778 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $132,995 | $156,312 | $179,629 | $202,946 |
| Yuba City, CA | $107,682 | $139,402 | $171,142 | $202,862 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $131,040 | $154,898 | $178,776 | $202,634 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $105,976 | $138,195 | $170,414 | $202,634 |
| Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $125,632 | $151,070 | $176,509 | $201,947 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $113,381 | $142,854 | $172,307 | $201,781 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $110,386 | $140,754 | $171,142 | $201,510 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $110,386 | $140,754 | $171,142 | $201,510 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $110,386 | $140,754 | $171,142 | $201,510 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.4 | |
| Speaking | 4.2 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.1 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | |
| Monitoring | 4.0 | |
| Coordination | 3.9 | |
| Active Learning | 3.8 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 | |
| Time Management | 3.5 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 4.2 |
| English Language | 3.9 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.8 |
| Education and Training | 3.8 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.6 |
| Geography | 3.5 |
| Telecommunications | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.3 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 36.1% |
| Some college | 20.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 20.1% |
| Associate's degree | 14.1% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 5.6% |
| Master's degree | 1.8% |
| Less than high school | 1.4% |
Typical Tasks
- Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
- Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
- Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
- Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
- Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
- Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
- Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
- Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word SAP software Advanced technologies and oceanic procedures ATOP Automated radar terminal systems ARTS Center TRACON automation systems CTAS Direct-to-tool software En route descent advisor EDA Enterprise resource planning ERP software Expedite departure path EDP software
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