Post job

Airport operations specialist vs traffic operator

The differences between airport operations specialists and traffic operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an airport operations specialist and a traffic operator. Additionally, an airport operations specialist has an average salary of $42,256, which is higher than the $36,610 average annual salary of a traffic operator.

The top three skills for an airport operations specialist include safety inspections, non-emergency situations and federal aviation administration. The most important skills for a traffic operator are patrol, traffic management, and CCTV.

Airport operations specialist vs traffic operator overview

Airport Operations SpecialistTraffic Operator
Yearly salary$42,256$36,610
Hourly rate$20.32$17.60
Growth rate6%3%
Number of jobs63,59431,592
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Airport operations specialist vs traffic operator salary

Airport operations specialists and traffic operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Airport Operations SpecialistTraffic Operator
Average salary$42,256$36,610
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $62,000Between $24,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CitySan Jose, CATopeka, KS
Highest paying stateAlaskaWashington
Best paying companyJefferson County Sheriffs DeptTrafigura
Best paying industryGovernmentFinance

Differences between airport operations specialist and traffic operator education

There are a few differences between an airport operations specialist and a traffic operator in terms of educational background:

Airport Operations SpecialistTraffic Operator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorAviationBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdaleStanford University

Airport operations specialist vs traffic operator demographics

Here are the differences between airport operations specialists' and traffic operators' demographics:

Airport Operations SpecialistTraffic Operator
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 64.3% Female, 35.7%Male, 60.2% Female, 39.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 6.2% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between airport operations specialist and traffic operator duties and responsibilities

Airport operations specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage operations associate facilities, flight training equipment, and all associate logistics.
  • Direct airside operations, which include safety and wildlife inspections, employee training, NOTAMs, and more.
  • Attend meetings with FAA, TSA, tenants, and airport personnel to discuss operations, security and safety issues.
  • Monitor CCTV security cameras for activity on property.
  • Monitor the centralized security system to enforce TSA regulations.
  • Inspect and operate emergency rescue equipment and perform firefighting operations .!
  • Show more

Traffic operator example responsibilities.

  • Manage busy company switchboard, operating PBX or private branch exchange systems to facilitate connections.
  • Dispatch safety service patrol along the interstate to assist with disable vehicles, accidents, or any lane closures.
  • Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
  • Train and recruit transportation personnel ensuring compliance with numerous transportation and DoD regulations.

Airport operations specialist vs traffic operator skills

Common airport operations specialist skills
  • Safety Inspections, 9%
  • Non-Emergency Situations, 8%
  • Federal Aviation Administration, 8%
  • Plumbing, 6%
  • Reservations, 6%
  • Federal Regulations, 5%
Common traffic operator skills
  • Patrol, 15%
  • Traffic Management, 10%
  • CCTV, 7%
  • Incident Management, 6%
  • DOT, 6%
  • Traffic Control, 6%

Browse executive management jobs