Airfield Operations Specialists

Definition

Ensure the safe takeoff and landing of commercial and military aircraft. Duties include coordination between air-traffic control and maintenance personnel; dispatching; using airfield landing and navigational aids; implementing airfield safety procedures; monitoring and maintaining flight records; and applying knowledge of weather information.

source: OOH; about this section

Significant Points

2004 employment: 5,000
Projected 2004-14 employment change: About as fast as average
Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Long-term on-the-job training

source: OOH; about this section

Quick Stats

Airfield operations specialists

2004 employment: 5,000
2014 projected employment: 6,000
Change — numeric: 1,000; percent: 15.0%
2004 median annual earnings: $36,680; earnings group: high
2004 self-employed: 2.1%
2004 part-time employment: very low
2004 unemployment: very low
Typical education and training: Long-term on-the-job training
Educational attainment — high school: 15.0%; some college: 47.6%; bachelor's degree: 37.4%

source: Employment Matrix; about this section

Earnings Graph

National Average and Percentile Annual Earnings, May 2005

Metropolitan area and State estimates.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Area and Industry Statistics

May 2005 Mean Annual Earnings and Employment, wage and salary workers

Airfield operations specialists
— National
U.S.:	$42,230
— by State
AL:	$44,050
AK:	$46,680
AZ:	$43,260
AR:	$31,940
CA:	$56,830
CO:	$45,110
FL:	$35,740
GA:	$59,100
IL:	$33,450
IN:	$62,170
IA:	$29,730
LA:	$45,740
MI:	$42,310
MN:	$38,210
MO:	$46,470
NV:	$47,970
NJ:	$47,440
NY:	$50,140
NC:	$34,960
OH:	$28,560
OK:	$49,530
PA:	$34,770
SC:	$37,190
TN:	$27,110
TX:	$41,780
UT:	$21,400
VA:	$40,310
WA:	$62,810
— by NAICS Industry Sector
31-33	$62,510
48-49	$38,170
54	$49,690
61	$34,170
92	$44,570
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for airfield operations specialists.

Width of bars indicates mean annual wages; color of bars indicates employment.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

In the News

Recent posts from the Airfield Operations Specialists archive of the ocouha weblog:

Also see Airfield operations specialists in the 2004-05 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook
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See the Occupational Outlook Handbook in print.