Air Traffic Controllers
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.
At a Glance
Air Traffic Controllers earns a median of $144,580/yr with +1.2% projected growth. Typical entry: Associate's degree. Top skills: Dependability, Cautiousness, Attention to Detail.
$144,580/yr
+1.2%
2
Associate's degree
Skills & Requirements
Skills (13)
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Knowledge (8)
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Abilities (22)
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Technology (8)
Work Activities (17)
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Work Styles (6)
A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related decisions or doing work.
A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, set high work-related standards, and exert high effort toward meeting those goals and standards.
A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in response to criticism or difficult situations at work.
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