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CAREERMASH (EN)FROM TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS →

Air Traffic Controller

Air traffic controllers guide aircraft safely through the sky and keep planes from crashing into each other. They talk to pilots, watch radar screens and make split-second decisions all day long.

Air Traffic Controller

12

Transport & Logistics

AI IMPACT
AI EXPOSURE TODAY12
20-YEAR SCENARIO
NOT A FORECAST52%
THE DOOR · ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAYB
STARTING PAY£30,000 - £40,000
REGULATORY MOATThe law requires human oversight. That human could be you.

THE DOOR: ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAY, graded A (easy) to E (extremely hard). A Careermash rule-of-thumb index built from our AI exposure index and the job's moat class. It is not a forecast and not a count of job openings.

AI EXPOSURE TODAY is a Careermash index from 0 to 100 of how exposed this job's everyday tasks are to AI today. We estimate it by matching published research on how people use AI to this job, usually by keyword or subject area, and we lower it where the work is protected (for example by physical, personal or legal requirements). It is not a direct measurement of how much people in this job use AI.

This job holds up well against AI
AI exposure today is low on our index (12), and the law requires human oversight. That human could be you. That is about as safe as careers get right now, though it is still worth learning to use the tools well.

Career progression path

Is this the only route?

This is the standard academic trajectory, but modern careers are highly flexible. You can often skip stagesby entering the industry with an advanced qualification (like a Master's or PhD), or pivot sideways from a related discipline.

0ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONUniversity DegreeUsually 3 to 4 years of full-time academic study, explicitly preparing you for the theoretical realities of the industry. Requires A-Levels, BTECs, or equivalent Level 3.-£56,550Avg. UK tuition & living
1FIRST STEPJunior Air Traffic ControllerBegin your career by assisting senior controllers and gaining hands-on experience in a busy control tower.£30,000 - £40,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-Level Air Traffic ControllerTake on more responsibility, managing multiple aircraft and coordinating with various teams.£50,000 - £70,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Air Traffic ControllerOversee operations, mentor junior controllers, and implement safety improvements.£90,000+

Apprenticeship listings for this career → (June 2026 snapshot; check closing dates on the official service)