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For Educators: Military Resources
Occupation FinderTransportation, Distribution and Logistics

Airfield Operations Specialists

Median Salary
51,140
Job Outlook
N/A

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

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.

What sectors do they work in?

No data available for this section.

Did you know this role exists in the Military?

Explore this Role in the MilitaryLearn More About Military Service

What is the job outlook?

No data available for this section.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$30,020

10%

$51,140

Median

$130,160

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • Bachelor's degree

    50%

  • High school

    33%

  • Some college

    14%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • Air Traffic Controller

Skills and Interests

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

Skills

  • Leadership

    High

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    High

  • Verbal Skills

    Mid

  • Math and Science Skills

    Low

  • Technology Design and Control

    Mid

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    Mid

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Education and Training
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Transportation
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administrative

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

Workplace

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    High

  • Time Pressure

    High

  • Repetitiveness

    High

  • Responsibility

    High

  • Decision Making

    High

  • Physical Activity

    Mid

  • Level Of Competition

    Mid

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Conventional

You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.

Realistic

You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.

Enterprising

You love taking risks in business or personal projects — and have the leadership skills to back it up.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

Related Occupations

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.

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Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

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Commercial Pilots

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Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.

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Supervisors of Passenger Attendants

Supervise and coordinate activities of passenger attendants.

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N/A

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1/5

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Military Air Traffic Control Managers

Air traffic control managers oversee the operations of airfields and control centers, both on land and at sea, that direct the tactical employment of aircraft during combat or noncombat missions. They prepare flight operations plans and monitor the maneuvers of aircraft in and out of airspace. They train, establish standards, and conduct operational evaluations to manage unit training and performance standards that ensure airfield operations personnel possess required job skills.

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Workforce Count

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Military Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists

Aircraft launch and recovery specialists ensure the safety of aircraft as they launch from and return to aircraft carriers. They perform this critical work by operating and maintaining catapults, arresting gear, and other equipment used in aircraft carrier takeoff and landing operations.

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Military Flight Operations Specialists

Flight operations specialists help with administrative functions that are necessary to keep military aircraft up and running. They prepare flight schedules and authorizations, administer aircrew training and qualification testing, perform airfield inspections, and maintain flight logs and other records. These specialists help ensure that both the aircraft personnel and equipment are prepared for mission accomplishment.

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Median Salary

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