Air Traffic Controllers (53-2021)

Occupation description:  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.

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Career Ladder/Lattice

The Alaska Career Ladder/Lattice is a tool to help job seekers identify upward career paths and lateral opportunities.
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Employment and Job Openings

  Average employment Average annual openings
  2010 estimate2020 projectionPercent change GrowthReplacementTotal
Alaska 427432 1.21 1314
United States 27,00026,200 -3.00 1,0201,020

Job outlook

  • Alaska: Alaska’s employment growth is low with high employment opportunities. Read more.


2012 Wages

  Mean Wage and
95% Confidence Interval
Wage by Percentile
  LowMeanHigh 10thMedian90th
United States n/a56.94n/a 31.2258.9182.37
Alaska 49.4251.2753.12 28.7146.4675.56
Anchorage/Mat-Su Area (MSA) 51.2554.9958.73 26.7756.2477.72
Southeast Region 40.2042.4944.78 32.7945.5353.22
Balance of State 41.8745.8149.75 40.6846.4554.89

Labor Force Indicators

2011 Worker Characteristics
Total workersNonresident workers Percent nonresidentPercent age 45 plusPercent age 50 plus
4821 43.838.7 29.0
2011 Potential Supply
Qualified but working in another occupation9
Currently employed in a lower paid occupation6
UI claimants previously working in occupation4
2011 ALEXsys Employment Data
Number of registrants 125
Number of job position postings 8
Ratio of registrants to job position postings 15.6

Typical Entry-level Education, Experience, and/or On-the-job Training

Education: Associate degree Work experience: None On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

Training Resources

 DegreeFY2008–2010 reported exiters
Alaska Career College
Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate62

 DegreeFY2008–2010 reported exiters
University of Alaska Anchorage
Air Traffic Control, AAS 0