Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Transportation and material moving / 53-2021.00

Air Traffic Controllers

Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.

US jobs
22,510
Median wage
$148,080 a year
Job family
Transportation and material moving

Can agents do the work of air traffic controllers?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Transportation and material moving: Unmeasured (no change in 12 months)

No direct benchmark gives a success rate.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 22%Communicate with others about operational plans or activitiesNot measured
  • 11%Notify others of emergencies or problemsNot measured
  • 10%Direct vehicle trafficNot measured
  • 10%Monitor operations to ensure adequate performanceNot measured
  • 10%Plan work activitiesNot measured
  • 5%Intervene in crisis situations or emergenciesNot measured
  • 5%Train others on operational or work proceduresNot measured
  • 5%Manage control systems or activitiesNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in transportation and material moving, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • Waymo Safety Impact data hubby WaymoTask level · Reduction in any-injury-reported crashes vs human benchmark
    82%Waymo Driver (rider-only, 220.6M miles through March 2026) · Mar 2026
    Unrated

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
  • Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
  • Monitor, direct, or sequence the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
  • Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
  • Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.
  • Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
  • Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
  • Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
  • Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
  • Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.
  • Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
  • Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.
Other job titles for this occupation (33)

ATCS (Air Traffic Control Specialist) · Center ATC (Center Air Traffic Controller) · Certified Professional Controller (CPC) · Developmental Air Traffic Controller · Developmental ATCS (Developmental Air Traffic Control Specialist) · Enroute ATCS (Enroute Air Traffic Control Specialist) · Radar Air Traffic Controller · Terminal ATC Specialist (Terminal Air Traffic Control Specialist) · Terminal Radar Approach Controller · Tower ATC (Tower Air Traffic Controller) · Air Route Controller · Air Route Traffic Controller · Air Traffic Control Operator · Air Traffic Coordinator · Aircraft Communicator · Airport Tower Controller · Airport Traffic Controller · Airway Controller · Airway Traffic Controller · Airways Control Specialist · Airways Operations Specialist · ATC Support Specialist (Air Traffic Control Support Specialist) · Enroute Controller · Flight Control Specialist · Flight Controller · Flight Dispatcher · Flight Radio Officer · Flight Radio Operator · Flight Service Specialist · Signal Tower Operator · Tower Air Traffic Control Specialist · Tower Control Operator · Traffic Control Specialist