O*NET-SOC 53-2021.00

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.

Preparation

ItemValue
Preparation zoneZone 3 – Medium preparation needed
What O*NET says the zone requiresPrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required
Broad occupation in O*NETTrue (Yes)
Skills listed for this occupation6
Abilities listed for this occupation6
Tasks listed for this occupation5
Interest scores given for this occupation6

Skills

The 6 skills with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

SkillO*NET elementImportanceDate
Active Listening2.A.1.b4.3807/2014
Speaking2.A.1.d4.2507/2014
Critical Thinking2.A.2.a4.1207/2014
Judgment and Decision Making2.B.4.e4.1207/2014
Complex Problem Solving2.B.2.i4.007/2014
Monitoring2.A.2.d4.007/2014

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Abilities

The 6 abilities with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

AbilityO*NET elementImportanceDate
Problem Sensitivity1.A.1.b.34.7507/2014
Oral Comprehension1.A.1.a.14.6207/2014
Oral Expression1.A.1.a.34.6207/2014
Selective Attention1.A.1.g.14.507/2014
Deductive Reasoning1.A.1.b.44.3807/2014
Flexibility of Closure1.A.1.e.24.2507/2014

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Tasks

The tasks O*NET records for this occupation, with the type, respondent count and date each record carries.

TaskTypeIncumbents respondingDate
Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.Core15907/2014
Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.Core15807/2014
Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.Core15807/2014
Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.Core15707/2014
Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.Core15507/2014

Work interests

The interest scores O*NET gives this occupation, on the six interest types.

InterestScoreDate
Conventional4.8411/2023
Realistic4.7411/2023
Enterprising4.2111/2023
Social2.6411/2023
Investigative2.5311/2023
Artistic1.011/2023

More occupations in preparation zone 3

Source: O*NET 29.1 Database (Occupation Data, Job Zones, Skills, Abilities, Task Statements, Interests), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Data fetched 2026-10-31. See about and sources.