Air Traffic Controllers vs Airfield Operations Specialists

This side-by-side compares Air Traffic Controllers (SOC 53-2021) against Airfield Operations Specialists (SOC 53-2022) using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from May 2025 plus BLS Employment Projections covering 2024–2034. The national median pay gap is $91,230/year (160%), favoring Air Traffic Controllers. Total U.S. employment sits at 22,510 for Air Traffic Controllers and 15,190 for Airfield Operations Specialists, which matters when judging how competitive the market is on either side.

Career trajectory diverges as well: BLS projects Air Traffic Controllers employment to change +1.2% through 2033 versus +4.2% for Airfield Operations Specialists, a difference of 3.0 percentage points. Annual openings (growth + replacement combined) are projected at 2.2 for Air Traffic Controllers against 1.6 for Airfield Operations Specialists. Entry-level education also differs - Air Traffic Controllers typically requires Associate's degree while Airfield Operations Specialists typically requires High school diploma or equivalent - which shapes both time-to-entry and starting salary.

Salary comparisons mask enormous state-level variation. This page's state-by-state table shows where each occupation pays best relative to the other - 30 states have reported wage data for both occupations, and the top-paying metros can exceed the national median by 20-40%. When weighing these two careers, look past the headline median: check the 10th-to-90th percentile spread to understand ceiling and floor, compare the state where you actually want to live, factor in the educational and experience investment required to enter, and keep in mind that BLS wage data excludes employer benefits, stock options, tips, and bonuses which can shift total compensation by 20-40%. Both sides of this comparison link through to full national profiles where you can run those deeper checks before making a career decision.