Air traffic controller demographics and statistics in the US
Air traffic controller demographics research summary. Zippia estimates air traffic controller demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our air traffic controller estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about air traffic controllers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 9,062 air traffic controllers currently employed in the United States.
- 21.9% of all air traffic controllers are women, while 78.1% are men.
- The average air traffic controller age is 38 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of air traffic controllers is White (59.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.6%), Black or African American (9.9%) and Unknown (7.1%).
- Air traffic controllers are most in-demand in New Orleans, LA.
- Washington, DC pays an annual average wage of $60,529, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women air traffic controllers earned 108% of what men earned.
- Delaware is the best state for air traffic controllers to live.
- Air traffic controllers are 53% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Air traffic controller demographics by:
Air traffic controller gender statistics
21.9% of air traffic controllers are women and 78.1% of air traffic controllers are men.
- Male, 78.1%
- Female, 21.9%
Air traffic controller gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 78.1% |
| Female | 21.9% |
Air traffic controller gender pay gap
Women earn $1.08 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$48,475
Female income
$52,341
Air traffic controller gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in air traffic controller positions over time. Currently, 21.9% of air traffic controllers are female.
Air traffic controller gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 76.79% | 23.21% |
| 2011 | 78.31% | 21.69% |
| 2012 | 73.88% | 26.12% |
| 2013 | 80.66% | 19.34% |
| 2014 | 71.07% | 28.93% |
| 2015 | 75.15% | 24.85% |
| 2016 | 74.23% | 25.77% |
| 2017 | 80.23% | 19.77% |
| 2018 | 76.92% | 23.08% |
| 2019 | 80.18% | 19.82% |
| 2020 | 74.15% | 25.85% |
| 2021 | 78.09% | 21.91% |
Air traffic controller related jobs gender ratio
We compared air traffic controllers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, airline transport pilot and combat control have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Flight Attendant | 16% | 84% |
| International Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Air Traffic Controller | 78% | 22% |
| Agricultural Aviation Pilot | 98% | 2% |
| Combat Control | 98% | 2% |
| Airline Transport Pilot | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Air traffic controller demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among air traffic controllers is White, which makes up 59.6% of all air traffic controllers. Comparatively, 17.6% of air traffic controllers are Hispanic or Latino and 9.9% of air traffic controllers are Black or African American.
- White, 59.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.6%
- Black or African American, 9.9%
- Unknown, 7.1%
- Asian, 5.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Air traffic controller race
| Air traffic controller race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 59.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.6% |
| Black or African American | 9.9% |
| Unknown | 7.1% |
| Asian | 5.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Air traffic controller race and ethnicity over time
See how air traffic controller racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Air traffic controller race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 71.39% | 12.68% | 2.50% | 11.22% |
| 2011 | 69.47% | 13.61% | 2.35% | 11.24% |
| 2012 | 69.03% | 10.32% | 3.01% | 12.78% |
| 2013 | 66.54% | 15.25% | 3.76% | 10.57% |
| 2014 | 68.87% | 12.26% | 2.93% | 11.44% |
| 2015 | 66.32% | 11.41% | 5.48% | 14.63% |
| 2016 | 69.83% | 12.81% | 1.96% | 11.28% |
| 2017 | 72.95% | 9.76% | 3.03% | 11.06% |
| 2018 | 66.77% | 13.25% | 3.83% | 13.72% |
| 2019 | 69.73% | 9.45% | 2.34% | 14.55% |
| 2020 | 66.85% | 11.59% | 3.20% | 14.87% |
| 2021 | 59.58% | 9.91% | 5.26% | 17.58% |
Air traffic controller wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown air traffic controllers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino air traffic controllers have the lowest average salary at $43,774.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $54,001 |
| White | $51,740 |
| Black or African American | $46,892 |
| Asian | $46,670 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $43,774 |
Average air traffic controller age
See how the average age of air traffic controllers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Air traffic controller age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 39 | |
| White | 37 | 40 |
| Black or African American | 41 | |
| Asian | 38 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 32.5 |
Air traffic controller age breakdown
The average age of air traffic controllers is 40+ years years old, representing 44% of the air traffic controller population.
Air traffic controller age breakdown
| Air Traffic Controller Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 44% |
| 30-40 years | 33% |
| 20-30 years | 21% |
Air traffic controller educational attainment
The most common degree for air traffic controllers is bachelor's degree, with 45% of air traffic controllers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 28% and associate degree degree at 17%.
- Bachelor's, 45%
- Associate, 28%
- High School Diploma, 17%
- Master's, 5%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Air traffic controllers by degree level
| Air traffic controller degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 45% |
| Associate | 28% |
| High School Diploma | 17% |
| Master's | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Air traffic controller jobs you might like
Air traffic controller wage gap by degree level
According to the data, air traffic controllers with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $55,909 annually. With a Associate degree, air traffic controllers earn a median annual income of $52,946 compared to $42,215 for air traffic controllers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $42,215 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $55,909 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $52,946 |
Air traffic controller employment statistics
Most air traffic controllers work for a private in the government industry.
Company size where air traffic controllers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where air traffic controllers work.
Air traffic controller jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 32% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 21% |
| > 10,000 employees | 21% |
Air traffic controller jobs by company type
Employees with the air traffic controller job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most air traffic controllers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Air traffic controller jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 6% |
| Public | 23% |
| Private | 53% |
| Government | 18% |
Air traffic controller jobs by industry
The most common industries for air traffic controllers are government, technology and transportation.
Air traffic controller industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 15% |
| Technology | 14% |
| Transportation | 12% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 9% |
| Fortune 500 | 8% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Education | 6% |
| Insurance | 4% |
| Media | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Air traffic controller turnover and employment statistics
Air traffic controller unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for air traffic controllers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Air traffic controller unemployment rate by year
| Year | Air traffic controller unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.13% |
| 2011 | 5.60% |
| 2012 | 3.41% |
| 2013 | 2.89% |
| 2014 | 0.51% |
| 2015 | 2.03% |
| 2016 | 2.34% |
| 2017 | 1.44% |
| 2018 | 3.12% |
| 2019 | 1.43% |
| 2020 | 2.54% |
| 2021 | 3.74% |
Average air traffic controller tenure
The average air traffic controller stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 3,740 air traffic controllers resumes in Zippia's database.
Air traffic controller tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 10% |
| 1-2 years | 24% |
| 3-4 years | 24% |
| 5-7 years | 21% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 16% |
Air traffic controller LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of air traffic controllers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Valet Driver | 3.71% | 139,213 |
| Car Detailer | 4.91% | 11,302 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 7.23% | - |
| Airplane Patroller | 11.74% | 171 |
| Ship Steward | 15.05% | 42,173 |
| Flight Attendant/Air Transportation Supervisor | 31.52% | 55,875 |
Similar air traffic controller jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Valet Driver | 3.71% | 139,213 |
| Car Detailer | 4.91% | 11,302 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Airplane Patroller | 11.74% | 171 |
| Ship Steward | 15.05% | 42,173 |
| Flight Attendant/Air Transportation Supervisor | 31.52% | 55,875 |
Foreign languages spoken by air traffic controllers
The most common foreign language among air traffic controllers is Spanish at 35.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 12.8% and German is the third-most popular at 7.7%.
- Spanish, 35.9%
- French, 12.8%
- German, 7.7%
- Arabic, 7.7%
- Korean, 5.1%
- Other, 30.8%
Air traffic controller languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 35.9% |
| French | 12.8% |
| German | 7.7% |
| Arabic | 7.7% |
| Korean | 5.1% |
| Other | 30.8% |
