Air Traffic Controllers build judgment and decision making, complex problem solving and coordination skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Power Distributors and Dispatchers (70%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 70% | $106,730 | −28% | None |
| 2 | Loss Prevention Managers | 68% | $141,900Pay for the broader BLS group “Managers, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Compliance Managers | 65% | $141,900Pay for the broader BLS group “Managers, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | 63% | $134,050Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Network Architects” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Information Security Analysts | 63% | $129,180 | −13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Hydroelectric Production Managers | 62% | $126,060Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Production Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 62% | $107,230 | −28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | 61% | $78,000 | −47% | None |
| 9 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 61% | $141,900Pay for the broader BLS group “Managers, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | 61% | $175,140 | +18% | Bachelor's degree |
Compared with Air Traffic Controllers, median $148,080. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as air traffic controllers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
70% skill match · $106,730 · −28% pay
Repairing · Operation and Control · Equipment Maintenance
68% skill match · $141,900 (broader BLS group)
Negotiation · Persuasion · Instructing
65% skill match · $141,900 (broader BLS group)
Persuasion · Negotiation · Instructing
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Power Distributors and Dispatchers (70% skill match, median $106,730), Loss Prevention Managers (68% skill match, median $141,900) and Compliance Managers (65% skill match, median $141,900), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 1 pay more than air traffic controllers at the median. The biggest increases: Computer and Information Systems Managers (+18%, $175,140).
11 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.