Traffic controller vs aircraft dispatcher

The differences between traffic controllers and aircraft dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an aircraft dispatcher has an average salary of $44,527, which is higher than the $39,099 average annual salary of a traffic controller.

The top three skills for a traffic controller include construction sites, DOT and safety regulations. The most important skills for an aircraft dispatcher are flight operations, maintenance control, and on-the-job training.

Traffic controller vs aircraft dispatcher overview

	Traffic Controller	Aircraft Dispatcher
Yearly salary	$39,099	$44,527
Hourly rate	$18.80	$21.41
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	17,859	7,153
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	-	-

Traffic controller vs aircraft dispatcher salary

Traffic controllers and aircraft dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Traffic Controller	Aircraft Dispatcher
Average salary	$39,099	$44,527
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $63,000	Between $25,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City	Hartford, CT	-
Highest paying state	Alaska	-
Best paying company	Siemens	-
Best paying industry	Non Profits	-

Differences between traffic controller and aircraft dispatcher education

There are a few differences between a traffic controller and an aircraft dispatcher in terms of educational background:

	Traffic Controller	Aircraft Dispatcher
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Business	Aviation
Most common college	SUNY Farmingdale	SUNY Farmingdale

Traffic controller vs aircraft dispatcher demographics

Here are the differences between traffic controllers' and aircraft dispatchers' demographics:

	Traffic Controller	Aircraft Dispatcher
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8%	Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 5.4% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between traffic controller and aircraft dispatcher duties and responsibilities

Traffic controller example responsibilities.

Lead team providing cargo, personal property and passenger movements for DoD personnel.
Provide support for traffic control set-ups within ATSSA compliance and regulations.
Control air and grind traffic movement for private, commercial, and military aircraft in IFR and VFR conditions.
Ensure compliance with FAA, USAF, ANG and all local directives.
Register traffic controller, certify in CPR and first aid.
Direct staff training and the FAA qualification of facility personnel.

Aircraft dispatcher example responsibilities.

Schedule flight crews for assignments, mange corporate aircraft fleet, manage charter customer base, manage record keeping for FAA requirements
Monitor airborne aircraft and communicate weather, NOTAMS, and airfield updates to the crew.
Plan flights with consideration of weather, NOTAMS, aircraft capabilities, company requirements and aircraft airworthiness.
Originate and disseminate flight information to others in the company including stations and reservations.
Coordinate with DOD and OSHA during on-site inspections.

Traffic controller vs aircraft dispatcher skills

Common traffic controller skills

Construction Sites, 13%
DOT, 10%
Safety Regulations, 10%
Safety Procedures, 7%
Direct Traffic, 7%
TMA, 6%

Common aircraft dispatcher skills

Flight Operations, 14%
Maintenance Control, 10%
On-The-Job Training, 10%
Aircraft Maintenance, 9%
Air Traffic Control, 6%
Flight Planning System, 5%

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Traffic Controller
Traffic Controller vs Aircraft Dispatcher

Updated January 8, 2025

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