Air traffic controller vs certified professional controller

The differences between air traffic controllers and certified professional controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified professional controller has an average salary of $88,588, which is higher than the $49,141 average annual salary of an air traffic controller.

The top three skills for an air traffic controller include federal aviation administration, air traffic control and NAS. The most important skills for a certified professional controller are critical path, infection prevention, and cash flow.

Air traffic controller vs certified professional controller overview

	Air Traffic Controller	Certified Professional Controller
Yearly salary	$49,141	$88,588
Hourly rate	$23.63	$42.59
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	17,944	91,307
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	-	-

Air traffic controller vs certified professional controller salary

Air traffic controllers and certified professional controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Air Traffic Controller	Certified Professional Controller
Average salary	$49,141	$88,588
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $90,000	Between $55,000 And $140,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Anchorage, AK
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Alaska
Best paying company	SAIC	Kaiser Permanente
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between air traffic controller and certified professional controller education

There are a few differences between an air traffic controller and a certified professional controller in terms of educational background:

	Air Traffic Controller	Certified Professional Controller
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Aviation	Business
Most common college	SUNY Farmingdale	SUNY Farmingdale

Air traffic controller vs certified professional controller demographics

Here are the differences between air traffic controllers' and certified professional controllers' demographics:

	Air Traffic Controller	Certified Professional Controller
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 78.1% Female, 21.9%	Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 5.3% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 7.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between air traffic controller and certified professional controller duties and responsibilities

Air traffic controller example responsibilities.

Lead recruitment and training for first ever associate operational combat flying organization.
Assign as SME for the Milstar AFCPT maintenance course.
Represent the hospital by attending the monthly APIC meetings.
Comply with all AWP policies, procedures and safety requirements.
Have certification in traffic control, CPR, and OSHA.
Assist in the creation of several (NOTAMS) notice to airmen.

Certified professional controller example responsibilities.

Facilitate the implementation of ERP system, which increase productivity in efficiently and effectively manage the functionality of the organization.
Provide leadership and training to incoming airmen and volunteer for many USAF organizations.
Correct and update the financial reporting system and institute financial integrity throughout the organization via operational and financial oversight and controls.
Provide financial planning process oversight, interface with department managers and corporate PMO to ensure adherence with corporate goals.
Provide guidance and roll-up data for weekly, monthly, and quarterly updates via conference calls within PMO guidelines.
Interface and coordinate with internal and external customers and operations managers in updating departmental EAC.

Air traffic controller vs certified professional controller skills

Common air traffic controller skills

Federal Aviation Administration, 21%
Air Traffic Control, 20%
NAS, 18%
Maximize Safety, 3%
CTO, 3%
Emergency Situations, 3%

Common certified professional controller skills

Critical Path, 14%
Infection Prevention, 13%
Cash Flow, 10%
WBS, 9%
Earned Value Management, 9%
Internal Controls, 7%

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Air Traffic Controller
Air Traffic Controller vs Certified Professional Controller

Updated January 8, 2025

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