Air Traffic Controllers vs Subway & Light Rail Operators
Median pay is about $62k higher for Air Traffic Controllers. The usual entry education is associate's plus FAA academy for Air Traffic Controllers and high school for Subway & Light Rail Operators.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Air Traffic Controllers | Subway & Light Rail Operators |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $148,080, higher | $86,380 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $104,520, higher | $61,980 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $190,570, higher | $90,140 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +1.7% Growing | +3.7% Growing, higher |
| Openings a year | 2,100 | 900 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Associate's plus FAA academy | High school |
| Difficulty modeled | 4 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 54th pct | 34th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, monitoring, reading comprehension, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.