Air Traffic Controllers vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Entry path fork: Air Traffic Controllers (Associate's degree) vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (Bachelor's degree)
Same-group titles on each education path
Title set and side labels change with each pair, so sibling compare pages diverge here before shared KPI chrome.
- 1. Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors · near Air Traffic Controllers
- 2. Aircraft Service Attendants · near Air Traffic Controllers
- 3. Airfield Operations Specialists · near Air Traffic Controllers
- 4. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians · near Air Traffic Controllers
Task mix after each typical entry path
Task phrases are occupation-specific and survive digit/entity normalization, the residual twin mass after dose-1 chrome forks.
- Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems. · Air Traffic Controllers (SOC 53-2021)
- Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions. · Air Traffic Controllers (SOC 53-2021)
- Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights. · Air Traffic Controllers (SOC 53-2021)
- Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations. · Air Traffic Controllers (SOC 53-2021)
- Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor. · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011)
- Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011)
- Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings. · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011)
- Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions. · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011)
Air Traffic Controllers · typical entry
Associate's degree
No related experience assigned
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers · typical entry
Bachelor's degree
Experience: Less than 5 years
Entry requirements diverge before pay does: Air Traffic Controllers is assigned Associate's degree while Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is assigned Bachelor's degree. That fork shapes time-to-entry; wage and outlook tables remain below for the same pair.
Outlook still differs: Air Traffic Controllers +1.2% vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers +3.9% through 2034 · openings 2,200 vs 11,700/yr.
State pay after entry-path fork
States with dual OEWS rows for Air Traffic Controllers and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, listed A-Z (geography mass, not a shared pay-gap sort).
| State | Air Traffic Controllers | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $114,960 | $136,990 | $-22,030 |
| Alaska | $123,950 | $232,140 | $-108,190 |
| Arizona | $136,800 | $227,870 | $-91,070 |
| Arkansas | $109,760 | $168,970 | $-59,210 |
| California | $160,080 | $353,900 | $-193,820 |
| Colorado | $177,380 | $307,490 | $-130,110 |
| Connecticut | $140,940 | $199,870 | $-58,930 |
| Florida | $147,530 | $225,020 | $-77,490 |
| Georgia | $178,420 | $618,090 | $-439,670 |
| Illinois | $181,560 | $293,490 | $-111,930 |
| Indiana | $158,810 | $171,260 | $-12,450 |
| Iowa | $90,790 | $131,730 | $-40,940 |
| Kansas | $159,700 | $143,580 | +$16,120 |
| Kentucky | $127,800 | $350,950 | $-223,150 |
| Louisiana | $99,810 | $120,740 | $-20,930 |
| Maine | $107,270 | $147,930 | $-40,660 |
| Michigan | $118,930 | $428,570 | $-309,640 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 | $211,470 | $-34,630 |
| Mississippi | $88,110 | $143,580 | $-55,470 |
| Missouri | $122,200 | $97,680 | +$24,520 |
Showing top 20 of 34 states.
Entry path: Air Traffic Controllers vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
| Signal | Air Traffic Controllers | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| Typical entry · Air Traffic Controllers vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | Associate's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Related experience · Airline Pilots | None | Less than 5 years |
| OEWS median annual · Air Traffic Controllers | $148,080 | $232,140 |
| Job growth 2024-2034 · Air Traffic Controllers | +1.2% | +3.9% |
| Annual openings · Airline Pilots side | 2,200 | 11,700 |
| OEWS total employment · 53-0000 | 22,510 | 103,560 |
| OEWS median hourly · Air Traffic Controlle… | $71.19/hr | N/A |
| OEWS mean annual · Airline Pilots | $146,490 | $288,650 |
| 10th-percentile annual · Air band | $78,420 | $106,710 |
| 90th-percentile annual · Airline band | $215,610 | $463,830 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025 release). Salary figures are annual medians and percentile bands published by BLS.
Common Questions
Which pays more, Air Traffic Controllers or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?
Which has better job outlook?
What entry education does each side require?
Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.