Occupations · Transportation and Material Moving

Airfield Operations Specialists

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 53-2022.00

$56,750median annual wage, May 2024

16,640people employed, United States

▲ 4.2%projected change, 2024→2034

1,600openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 45% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$41,450	1,770
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$59,270	520
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$59,260	320
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$46,690	280
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$39,880	270
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$62,640	250
Salt Lake City, UT	$61,400	220
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$47,830	210
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	$47,160	180
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$48,080	180
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$63,170	160
Pittsburgh, PA	$51,140	150

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Inspect airfield conditions to ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements.
Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation.
Conduct inspections of the airport property and perimeter to maintain controlled access to airfields.
Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies.
Initiate or conduct airport-wide coordination of snow removal on runways and taxiways.
Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds.
Coordinate communications between air traffic control and maintenance personnel.
Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.
Perform and supervise airfield management activities, including mobile airfield management functions.
Plan and coordinate airfield construction.
Monitor the arrival, parking, refueling, loading, and departure of all aircraft.
Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening4.0

Monitoring4.0

Reading Comprehension3.8

Speaking3.8

Critical Thinking3.8

Writing3.4

Active Learning3.2

Learning Strategies3.0

Mathematics2.1

Science1.6

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Photoshop●Extensible markup language XML●Intuit QuickBooks●Linux●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft SharePoint●Microsoft Windows●Microsoft Word●Oracle Database●SAP software●Aircraft noise monitoring system softwareApache HTTP ServerDecision Support Technologies PropworksFileMaker ProGround transportation management systemInternet Protocol Television SystemsOperations scheduling softwareParking access revenue control systemTRMI Airport AVI

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment+2.2 above average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions+1.9 above average

Consequence of Error+1.8 above average

Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions+1.5 above average

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General+1.4 above average

Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures+1.4 above average

Exposed to Contaminants+1.3 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2021-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree51%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)34%

Some College Courses15%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)1%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2021-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Conventional4.9

Realistic4.6

Enterprising4.5

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Inspect airfield conditions to ensure safety and compliance with federal regulatory requirements.
Issue notices to advise flight crews of airfield status.
Monitor and manage the operation of drones within the airport airspace to ensure safe aircraft operations.
Train operations staff on topics such as driving on airfields and security identification display area (SIDA) procedures.

O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Coordination3.8

Complex Problem Solving3.4

Instructing3.2

Judgment and Decision Making3.2

Systems Analysis3.1

Social Perceptiveness3.1

Systems Evaluation3.1

Time Management3.1

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Public Safety and SecurityTransportationEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingTelecommunications

Abilities it leans on

Problem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech Clarity

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

Ramp AgentAirport AgentAirline AgentFlight FollowerOperations AgentAirline DispatcherOperations OfficerAirport Ramp AgentAirport SupervisorOperations SpecialistOperations CoordinatorFlight Operations AgentAirport Operations AgentAirport Security Officer

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 2 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 12

+Intuit QuickBooks+Microsoft Office software+Apache HTTP Server+FileMaker Pro+Oracle Database+Microsoft Outlook+Extensible markup language XML+Microsoft Windows+Microsoft SharePoint+Adobe Photoshop+Linux+SAP software

No longer listed 1

−Data entry software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

Ramp AgentAirport AgentAirline AgentAirport ManagerFlight FollowerFlight DirectorOperations AgentAirfield ManagerAirline DispatcherOperations OfficerAirport SupervisorAirport Ramp Agent

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
airport operations officer	3154.1.3	exact

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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