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.
Airfield Operations Specialists earn a median of $27.33/hr — about $57,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $17.25/hr; the top 10% earn $49.10/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors; you're around people constantly; time pressure is a real part of the job; it rewards working independently; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 0% of airfield operations specialists are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused, hands-on and take-charge.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a airfield operations specialist make?
- The median pay is $27.33 per hour — roughly $57,000 a year, with the real range running from about $17.25/hr (10th percentile) to $49.10/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a airfield operations specialist?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
- What does a airfield operations specialist actually do all day?
- 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.
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