Traffic controller demographics and statistics in the US
Traffic controller demographics research summary. Zippia estimates traffic controller demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our 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 traffic controllers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 7,179 traffic controllers currently employed in the United States.
- 33.8% of all traffic controllers are women, while 66.2% are men.
- The average traffic controller age is 38 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of traffic controllers is White (60.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.7%), Black or African American (8.0%) and Unknown (7.1%).
- Traffic controllers are most in-demand in Louisville, KY.
- The non profits industry is the highest-paying for traffic controllers.
- 7% of all traffic controllers are LGBT.
On this page
Traffic controller demographics by:
Traffic controller gender statistics
33.8% of traffic controllers are women and 66.2% of traffic controllers are men.
- Male, 66.2%
- Female, 33.8%
Traffic controller gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 66.2% |
| Female | 33.8% |
Traffic controller gender pay gap
Women earn $1.06 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$38,681
Female income
$41,091
Traffic controller gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in traffic controller positions over time. Currently, 33.8% of traffic controllers are female.
Traffic controller gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.48% | 35.52% |
| 2011 | 66.45% | 33.55% |
| 2012 | 60.80% | 39.20% |
| 2013 | 69.58% | 30.42% |
| 2014 | 57.40% | 42.60% |
| 2015 | 62.38% | 37.62% |
| 2016 | 61.24% | 38.76% |
| 2017 | 69.00% | 31.00% |
| 2018 | 64.63% | 35.37% |
| 2019 | 68.93% | 31.07% |
| 2020 | 61.14% | 38.86% |
| 2021 | 66.16% | 33.84% |
Traffic controller related jobs gender ratio
We compared 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% |
| Traffic Controller | 66% | 34% |
| 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%
Traffic controller demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among traffic controllers is White, which makes up 60.3% of all traffic controllers. Comparatively, 18.7% of traffic controllers are Hispanic or Latino and 8.0% of traffic controllers are Black or African American.
- White, 60.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.7%
- Black or African American, 8.0%
- Unknown, 7.1%
- Asian, 5.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Traffic controller race
| Traffic controller race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 60.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.7% |
| Black or African American | 8.0% |
| Unknown | 7.1% |
| Asian | 5.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Traffic controller race and ethnicity over time
See how traffic controller racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Traffic controller race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.10% | 10.75% | 2.62% | 12.33% |
| 2011 | 70.17% | 11.68% | 2.47% | 12.35% |
| 2012 | 69.73% | 8.39% | 3.12% | 13.88% |
| 2013 | 67.25% | 13.31% | 3.88% | 11.67% |
| 2014 | 69.58% | 10.32% | 3.04% | 12.54% |
| 2015 | 67.02% | 9.47% | 5.60% | 15.73% |
| 2016 | 70.53% | 10.87% | 2.08% | 12.38% |
| 2017 | 73.66% | 7.82% | 3.15% | 12.16% |
| 2018 | 67.47% | 11.31% | 3.95% | 14.82% |
| 2019 | 70.43% | 7.52% | 2.45% | 15.65% |
| 2020 | 67.56% | 9.65% | 3.32% | 15.97% |
| 2021 | 60.28% | 7.97% | 5.37% | 18.68% |
Traffic controller wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown traffic controllers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino traffic controllers have the lowest average salary at $35,696.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $42,114 |
| White | $40,719 |
| Black or African American | $37,683 |
| Asian | $37,543 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $35,696 |
Average traffic controller age
See how the average age of traffic controllers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
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 |
Traffic controller age breakdown
The average age of traffic controllers is 40+ years years old, representing 44% of the traffic controller population.
Traffic controller age breakdown
| Traffic Controller Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 44% |
| 30-40 years | 33% |
| 20-30 years | 21% |
Traffic controller educational attainment
The most common degree for traffic controllers is high school diploma, with 41% of traffic controllers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 21% and bachelor's degree degree at 18%.
- High School Diploma, 41%
- Bachelor's, 21%
- Associate, 18%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 10%
Traffic controllers by degree level
| Traffic controller degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 41% |
| Bachelor's | 21% |
| Associate | 18% |
| Diploma | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 10% |
Traffic controller jobs you might like
Traffic controller wage gap by degree level
According to the data, traffic controllers with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $43,282 annually. With a Associate degree, traffic controllers earn a median annual income of $41,465 compared to $34,690 for traffic controllers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $34,690 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,282 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $41,465 |
Traffic controller employment statistics
Most traffic controllers work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where traffic controllers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where traffic controllers work.
Traffic controller jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 15% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 27% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 28% |
| > 10,000 employees | 16% |
Traffic controller jobs by company type
Employees with the traffic controller job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most traffic controllers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Traffic controller jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 3% |
| Public | 14% |
| Private | 74% |
| Government | 9% |
Traffic controller jobs by industry
The most common industries for traffic controllers are professional, construction and manufacturing.
Traffic controller industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Construction | 14% |
| Professional | 14% |
| Manufacturing | 9% |
| Transportation | 8% |
| Government | 8% |
| Hospitality | 7% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Media | 4% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Utilities | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Education | 3% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Traffic controller turnover and employment statistics
Traffic controller unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for traffic controllers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Traffic controller unemployment rate by year
| Year | 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 traffic controller tenure
The average traffic controller stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 3,252 traffic controllers resumes in Zippia's database.
Traffic controller tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 38% |
| 1-2 years | 27% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 4% |
Traffic controller LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Lot Attendant | 3.71% | 49,080 |
| Automotive Detailer | 4.91% | 37,088 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Traffic Controller | 7.23% | - |
| Commercial Helicopter Pilot | 11.74% | 29,274 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
| Lead Instructor/Flight Attendant | 31.52% | 71,319 |
Similar traffic controller jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Lot Attendant | 3.71% | 49,080 |
| Automotive Detailer | 4.91% | 37,088 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Commercial Helicopter Pilot | 11.74% | 29,274 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
| Lead Instructor/Flight Attendant | 31.52% | 71,319 |
Foreign languages spoken by traffic controllers
The most common foreign language among traffic controllers is Spanish at 65.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.6% and Somali is the third-most popular at 3.9%.
- Spanish, 65.8%
- French, 6.6%
- Somali, 3.9%
- Mandarin, 3.9%
- Cantonese, 3.9%
- Other, 15.9%
Traffic controller languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 65.8% |
| French | 6.6% |
| Somali | 3.9% |
| Mandarin | 3.9% |
| Cantonese | 3.9% |
| Other | 15.9% |
