Jobs Similar to Air Traffic Controllers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to air traffic controllers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Airfield Operations Specialists, Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators and Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters.
Air Traffic Controllers: $148,080 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Air Traffic Controllers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airfield Operations SpecialistsSame group | 79% | $56,850−62% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | 78% | $43,370−71% | High school |
| 3 | Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | 77% | $78,000−47% | High school |
| 4 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 77% | $106,730−28% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | 76% | $50,340−66% | High school |
| 6 | Transit and Railroad Police | 75% | $90,230−39% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | 75% | $58,170−61% | High school |
| 8 | Retail Loss Prevention Specialists | 75% | $42,540Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 9 | Customs and Border Protection Officers | 74% | $76,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 10 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSame group | 74% | $232,140+57% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Logistics Analysts | 74% | $82,320Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Transportation Inspectors | 73% | $92,100−38% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Loss Prevention Managers | 73% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 73% | $107,230−28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Police Identification and Records Officers | 73% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 16 | Freight Forwarders | 73% | $52,260Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 17 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 72% | $76,210−49% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Public Safety Telecommunicators | 72% | $53,040−64% | High school |
| 19 | Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | 72% | $40,710−73% | High school |
| 20 | Traffic Technicians | 72% | $59,090−60% | Training or associate |
- 1Airfield Operations Specialists
79% similar · $56,850 (−62%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators
78% similar · $43,370 (−71%) · High school
- 3Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
77% similar · $78,000 (−47%) · High school
- 4Power Distributors and Dispatchers
77% similar · $106,730 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 5Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
76% similar · $50,340 (−66%) · High school
- 6Transit and Railroad Police
75% similar · $90,230 (−39%) · Training or associate
- 7Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
75% similar · $58,170 (−61%) · High school
- 8Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
75% similar · $42,540 (broader group) · High school
- 9Customs and Border Protection Officers
74% similar · $76,210 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 10Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
74% similar · $232,140 (+57%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Logistics Analysts
74% similar · $82,320 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Transportation Inspectors
73% similar · $92,100 (−38%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Loss Prevention Managers
73% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
73% similar · $107,230 (−28%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Police Identification and Records Officers
73% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 16Freight Forwarders
73% similar · $52,260 (broader group) · High school
- 17Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
72% similar · $76,210 (−49%) · Training or associate
- 18Public Safety Telecommunicators
72% similar · $53,040 (−64%) · High school
- 19Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
72% similar · $40,710 (−73%) · High school
- 20Traffic Technicians
72% similar · $59,090 (−60%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators78% similar · High school
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters77% similar · High school
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance76% similar · High school
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors75% similar · High school
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists75% similar · High school
- Freight Forwarders73% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for air traffic controllers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where air traffic controllers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Traffic Technicians (82)
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters (79)
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers (77)
- Transit and Railroad Police (75)
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors (74)
- Customs and Border Protection Officers (74)
- Police Identification and Records Officers (73)
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (72)
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators (71)
- Public Safety Telecommunicators (71)
Questions about jobs like air traffic controllers
What jobs are most similar to air traffic controllers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Airfield Operations Specialists (79% similar), Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators (78% similar), Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters (77% similar), Power Distributors and Dispatchers (77% similar) and Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (76% similar).
Which jobs like air traffic controllers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($232,140, +57%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with air traffic controllers ($148,080).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.