Career Paths From Air Traffic Controllers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Airfield Operations SpecialistsLateral Move94.8% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Airfield Operations Specialists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Airfield Operations Specialists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 62% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$56,850
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Railroad Conductors and YardmastersLateral Move93.6% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 47% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$78,000
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Traffic TechniciansLateral Move94.5% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Traffic Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Traffic Technicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 60% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$59,090
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Fire Inspectors and InvestigatorsCareer Change93.5% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Fire Inspectors and Investigators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Fire Inspectors and Investigators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 49% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$75,920
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Nurse PractitionersCareer Change93.5% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Nurse Practitioners share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Nurse Practitioners is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 3). Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$132,300
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
5
Medical DosimetristsCareer Change97.2% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Medical Dosimetrists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Medical Dosimetrists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3).
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$147,470
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsCareer Change94.7% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Detectives and Criminal Investigators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Detectives and Criminal Investigators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 37% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$93,790
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsCareer Change93.6% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 22% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$115,160
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsCareer Change92.9% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Occupational Health and Safety Specialists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Occupational Health and Safety Specialists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 39% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$90,150
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansCareer Change93.9% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Occupational Health and Safety Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Occupational Health and Safety Technicians is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 58% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$61,560
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthCareer Change93% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 63% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$55,090
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Surveying and Mapping TechniciansCareer Change95.1% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Surveying and Mapping Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Surveying and Mapping Technicians is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 63% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$54,240
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Construction and Building InspectorsCareer Change94.1% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Construction and Building Inspectors share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Construction and Building Inspectors is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 50% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$74,690
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Materials ScientistsCareer Change92.6% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Materials Scientists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Materials Scientists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 20% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$117,790
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Food Scientists and TechnologistsCareer Change93.3% skill match
Air Traffic Controllers and Food Scientists and Technologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Food Scientists and Technologists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 40% lower.
Current median salary
$148,080
Target median salary
$88,720
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.