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.

AI Exposure Score for

Air Traffic Controllers

63/100
High exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

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.

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How you compare to similar Transportation roles

Air Traffic Controllers (you)
63
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
62
Bridge and Lock Tenders
64
Commercial Pilots
64
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
65
Recycling Coordinators
66
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable
  • 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.
  • Relay air traffic information, such as courses, altitudes, or expected arrival times, to control centers.
  • Review records or reports for clarity and completeness and maintain records or reports, as required under federal law.
  • Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers.
  • Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.
  • Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
  • Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
  • Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
  • Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.
  • Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft.
  • Inspect, adjust, or control radio equipment or airport lights.
  • Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.
  • Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
  • Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
  • Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
  • Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
Augmentable
  • Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers.
  • Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
Durable

No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as automatable (90%).

Safer adjacent roles

Airfield Operations Specialists
80% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$56,850
66
Commercial Pilots
72% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$123,220
64
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
64% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$232,140
67
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
56% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$78,000
56
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
48% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$58,170
65
Locomotive Engineers
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$81,410
54
Traffic Technicians
40% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$59,090
66
Aviation Inspectors
40% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$92,100
66

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.
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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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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.