What does a traffic controller do?
The primary role of a traffic controller is to direct the flow of machinery and vehicles on roads and any other work sites. Traffic controllers coordinate, setup, manage, and remove traffic control. They direct traffic in disruption areas like accidents, planned maintenance, building sites, and roadworks. They have to direct pedestrians for safety maintenance around road conditions and changed vehicles. They need to be keen on directing traffic flow.
Traffic controller responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real traffic controller resumes:
- 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.
- Perform CIC staff work & other duties as directed by management.
- Provide continuous feedback to new employees to ensure safety and ATSSA compliance.
- Maintain, repair, troubleshoot, and replace traffic signals and signal components.
- Guide air traffic safely throughout area of operation in accordance with FAA regulations.
- Warn workers when approaching vehicle fails to heed signals to prevent accident and injury to workers.
- Patrol specific area on foot, or motorize conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.
- Issue pertinent notices to airmen (NOTAMS) relevant to the safety of propose flight paths.
- Analyze, interpret and apply ATC standards in accordance with local, FAA, and USAF instructions.
- Receive, interpret and relay notices to airmen (NOTAMS) and airmen's advisories (AIRADS).
Traffic controller skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Traffic Controllers are proficient in Construction Sites, DOT, and Safety Regulations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Math skills, Organizational skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Traffic Controllers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Construction Sites, 13%
Direct vehicular and pedestrian traffic around construction sites.
- DOT, 10%
Obtained a traffic control supervisor certification from Florida dot.
- Safety Regulations, 10%
Set up sites direct traffic while maintaining safety regulations
- Safety Procedures, 7%
Adhered to safety procedures published in accordance with Department of Transportation approved practices.
- Direct Traffic, 7%
Direct traffic into parking destinations.
- TMA, 6%
Delivered product to customers/ picked up and dropped off rental equipment/drove a TMA truck at night time
Common skills that a traffic controller uses to do their job include "construction sites," "dot," and "safety regulations." You can find details on the most important traffic controller responsibilities below.
Math skills. One of the key soft skills for a traffic controller to have is math skills. You can see how this relates to what traffic controllers do because "controllers must be able to do arithmetic accurately and quickly." Additionally, a traffic controller resume shows how traffic controllers use math skills: "maintained records and statistics, including tape recordings of voice radio communications, of daily air traffic operations. "
Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform traffic controller duties is organizational skills. Traffic controllers responsibilities require that "controllers must be able to coordinate the actions of multiple flights and to prioritize tasks, because they may be required to guide several pilots at the same time." Traffic controllers also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "supervised and managed air traffic control facilities in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. "
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for traffic controllers to perform their duties. For an example of how traffic controller responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "controllers must be able to understand complex situations, review changing circumstances, and provide pilots with appropriate alternatives." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a traffic controller: "traffic control/ flagger provided safe, compliant and comprehensive traffic control solutions to utility/construction/county and state companies. ".
Communication skills. For certain traffic controller responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "communication skills." The day-to-day duties of a traffic controller rely on this skill, as "air traffic controllers must be able to give clear, concise instructions, listen carefully to pilots’ requests, and respond by speaking clearly in english." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what traffic controllers do: "work in conjunction with the flaggers, via two-way radio or hand signal communication, to coordinate traffic flow. "
The three companies that hire the most traffic controllers are:
- Oldcastle Infrastructure5 traffic controllers jobs
- Novant Health3 traffic controllers jobs
- All American Financial Corp
3 traffic controllers jobs
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Compare different traffic controllers
Traffic controller vs. Flight service specialist
A flagger is an employee who is hired by government agencies or construction companies to control the flow of traffic around road construction sites. To control the flow of traffic, flaggers must erect warning signs and position traffic cones and barricades to guide drivers through the traffic flow. They are responsible for informing the construction crew of any issues that may affect their safety. Flaggers are also required to record the license plate numbers of motorists who did not obey traffic signs and directions.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, traffic controller responsibilities require skills like "construction sites," "dot," "safety regulations," and "safety procedures." Meanwhile a typical flight service specialist has skills in areas such as "flight operations," "icao," "dod," and "local agencies." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, flight service specialists reach similar levels of education than traffic controllers. Flight service specialists are 3.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Traffic controller vs. Flagger
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that traffic controller responsibilities requires skills like "dot," "safety procedures," "tma," and "traffic cones." But a flagger might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "work ethic," "asphalt," "work boots," and "atssa."
Flaggers earn a lower average salary than traffic controllers. But flaggers earn the highest pay in the construction industry, with an average salary of $30,808. Additionally, traffic controllers earn the highest salaries in the non profits with average pay of $58,262 annually.flaggers earn similar levels of education than traffic controllers in general. They're 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Traffic controller vs. Flight communications officer
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a traffic controller is likely to be skilled in "construction sites," "dot," "safety regulations," and "safety procedures," while a typical flight communications officer is skilled in "logistics," "air transportation," "flight schedules," and "combat."
When it comes to education, flight communications officers tend to earn higher degree levels compared to traffic controllers. In fact, they're 10.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Traffic controller vs. Aircraft dispatcher
Types of traffic controller
Updated January 8, 2025
