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Airfield Operations Specialists

Directs airplanes safely through the sky and on the ground.

Typical education to startHigh school diploma or equivalent
Job outlook2025–2035: +8%
Median pay$56,850 a year (2025)
Interest codeCRE Conventional, Realistic, Enterprising

Read the full guide

Air traffic controllers track planes on radar, give pilots instructions for takeoff, landing and routes, and keep aircraft safely apart. Most work for the FAA in towers, approach facilities and en route centers. The job is high-pressure and well paid.

Open the air traffic controller guide

The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.

High school courses that build toward it

  • English 10 · English

    Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.

  • Physical Education · Health and PE

    Builds teaching and training, which this job uses.

  • Business Law · Career and Technical

    Builds law and government, which this job uses.

  • Computer Science Principles · Computer Science

    Builds computers and electronics, which this job uses.

  • Pre-Algebra · Math

    Builds math, which this job uses.

Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.

Airfield Operations Specialists on O*NET OnLine · O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections 2025.