Transportation and material moving
Airfield operations specialist
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.
Median pay
$56,850
Growth to 2035
+8%
faster than average
Openings a year
1,500
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Airfield operations specialist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Airfield operations specialist: 29% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Perform and supervise airfield management activities, including mobile airfield management functions.
Also called: Airfield Operations Specialist · Airport Operations Agent · Airport Operations Coordinator · Airport Operations Officer · Airport Operations Specialist · Flight Follower · Operations Agent · Operations Coordinator
Outlook and AI
Airfield operations specialists held 15,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 16,500 by 2035 (+8%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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