Air Traffic Controllers vs Airfield Operations Specialists
Side-by-side salary and career comparison using Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Air Traffic Controllers
$144,580
median annual salary
Airfield Operations Specialists
$56,750
median annual salary
Air Traffic Controllers earns $87,830 more per year (155% higher)
Salary & Career Comparison
| Metric | Air Traffic Controllers | Airfield Operations Specialists |
|---|---|---|
| Median Salary | $144,580 | $56,750 |
| Median Hourly | $69.51/hr | $27.28/hr |
| Mean Salary | $142,740 | $67,120 |
| 10th Percentile | $76,090 | $35,200 |
| 90th Percentile | $210,410 | $111,030 |
| Total Employment | 22,400 | 16,640 |
| Job Growth (2023–2033) | +1.2% | +4.2% |
| Annual Openings | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| Education | Associate's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work Experience | None | None |
Salary by State
States where both occupations have reported wage data, sorted by salary difference.
| State | Air Traffic Controllers | Airfield Operations Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $185,890 | $39,860 | +$146,030 |
| Georgia | $174,600 | $46,670 | +$127,930 |
| Indiana | $155,790 | $43,420 | +$112,370 |
| Tennessee | $153,670 | $45,630 | +$108,040 |
| New York | $142,190 | $40,980 | +$101,210 |
| New Mexico | $145,290 | $45,140 | +$100,150 |
| Colorado | $172,310 | $72,720 | +$99,590 |
| Utah | $156,120 | $61,400 | +$94,720 |
| New Jersey | $135,470 | $41,450 | +$94,020 |
| California | $152,010 | $61,100 | +$90,910 |
| Texas | $167,710 | $77,460 | +$90,250 |
| Nevada | $147,700 | $60,250 | +$87,450 |
| North Carolina | $120,580 | $36,050 | +$84,530 |
| Florida | $144,710 | $62,600 | +$82,110 |
| Washington | $164,070 | $82,540 | +$81,530 |
| South Carolina | $107,330 | $33,490 | +$73,840 |
| North Dakota | $121,470 | $49,970 | +$71,500 |
| Puerto Rico | $119,560 | $48,830 | +$70,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $129,310 | $59,480 | +$69,830 |
| Wisconsin | $106,750 | $37,480 | +$69,270 |
Showing top 20 of 36 states.
Also Compare
Air Traffic Controllers vs Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors Air Traffic Controllers vs Aircraft Service Attendants Air Traffic Controllers vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Airfield Operations Specialists vs Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors Airfield Operations Specialists vs Aircraft Service Attendants Airfield Operations Specialists vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
View Full Details
Common Questions
Which pays more, Air Traffic Controllers or Airfield Operations Specialists?
Air Traffic Controllers pays more, with a median annual salary of $144,580 compared to $56,750 — a difference of $87,830 per year.
Which has better job outlook?
Airfield Operations Specialists has faster projected growth at 4.2% from 2023 to 2033, compared to 1.2% for Air Traffic Controllers.
Where does this data come from?
All salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. Job outlook data comes from the BLS Employment Projections program covering 2023-2033.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024.