As of June 2026, Air Traffic Controllers has an AI-exposure score of 63/100 (High exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Air Traffic Controllers
More exposed than 77% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$148,080. About 2,200 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How this role compares to similar Transportation roles
What this role usually involves
Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
Broad guidance for this preparation level; exact requirements vary by role and employer.
Source: O*NET 29.1 exact occupation - Air Traffic Controllers, SOC 53-2021.00. Context describes the role; the AI-exposure score remains a separate task-exposure estimate.
Air Traffic Controllers tasks, by AI exposure
- Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, or observations.
- Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
- Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace.
- Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
- Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers.
No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as automatable (90%).
We analyzed all 20 Air Traffic Controllers tasks — 18 automatable and 2 augmentable. The full task map — every task with exactly what to do about each — is in your Career Report.
Your report unlocks three concrete artifacts
Every task scored with what to automate, augment, or protect.
5-10 adjacent roles with salary, demand, and reachability.
A keepable roadmap plus resume and LinkedIn repositioning.
Grounded in O*NET + the Anthropic Economic Index + BLS — not generic ChatGPT advice.
Safer adjacent roles
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Your AI-Safe Career Report
Every task scored with what to do about it · 5–10 safer roles with salary, demand & reachability · skill-gap map · a 30/60/90-day roadmap · plus a résumé & LinkedIn rewrite · PDF.
Grounded in O*NET + the Anthropic Economic Index + BLS — personalized to your role.
AI was the most-cited reason for U.S. layoffs through mid-2026 — the workers who adapt earliest fare best. — Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2026The upside: Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026
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