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Air traffic controller

Also called air controller, flight controller, controller of air traffic

Air traffic controllers assist pilots by providing information concerning the height, speed and course. They assist pilots in order to facilitate a safe take off and landing of aircrafts. They are responsible for maintaining a secure and orderly movement of aircraft along major air routes up in the sky and around airports. They control air traffic in and within vicinity of airports according to established procedures and policies to prevent collisions and to minimise delays arising from traffic congestion.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects27 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree. 8 in 10 train through vocational routes.Science and engineering associate professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Air traffic controllers · ILO

What you'd do

Air traffic controllers · ILO
  • Directing and controlling aircraft approaching and leaving airport and their movement on the ground
  • Directing and controlling aircraft operating in designated airspace sector
  • Examining and approving flight plans
  • Informing flight crew and operations staff about weather conditions, operational facilities, flight plans and air traffic
  • Applying knowledge of principles and practices of air traffic control in order to identify and solve problems arising in the course of their work
  • Initiating and organizing emergency, search and rescue services and procedures
  • Directing activities of all aircraft and service vehicles on or near airport runways
  • Maintaining radio and telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units and other control centres, and coordinating the movement of aircraft into adjoining areas
Use meteorological informationCarry out navigational calculationsRead 3D displaysHave spatial awarenessOperate radar equipment+ 16 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Very repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Air Traffic Controllers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering associate professionals in the EU
7.4m7.3m7.49m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
142,000 new jobs 1,835,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering associate professionals27
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of air traffic controllers, 3 a surplus.
Air traffic controllers · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in transport services is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 41%Vocational 43%General secondary 7%Basic schooling 9%
Fields that teach it
Transport services · Law · Motor vehicles, ships and aircraft
Vocational route, EU
8 in 10 trainees in this field
Services graduates in a matching job
59% in the EU

819 institutions in the EU offer services bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.31 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Informing flight crew and operations staff about weather conditions, operational facilities, flight plans and air traffic0.50
Maintaining radio and telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units and other control centres, and coordinating the movement of aircraft into adjoining areas0.33
Applying knowledge of principles and practices of air traffic control in order to identify and solve problems arising in the course of their work0.32
Examining and approving flight plans0.30
Directing and controlling aircraft approaching and leaving airport and their movement on the ground0.30
Directing and controlling aircraft operating in designated airspace sector0.28
Directing activities of all aircraft and service vehicles on or near airport runways0.28
Initiating and organizing emergency, search and rescue services and procedures0.17

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for air traffic controllers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).