Navy · AC
Navy Air Traffic Controllers direct aircraft in high-pressure tower and radar environments. Military ATC experience is a recognized route into FAA controller hiring, and it also fits airport operations and dispatch.
These are the civilian jobs the U.S. Department of Labor maps to AC, plus the roles most closely related to them—ordered from the closest match. Think of them as a floor, not a ceiling: see what each role involves and pays, start where your Air Traffic Controller experience already fits, and build toward the rest.
$137,380/yr mediantypical $76k–$201k~22K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies.
Why it fits: A direct Department of Labor match—your Air Traffic Controller work maps straight onto the aviation & aircraft side of this role.
$51,140/yr mediantypical $34k–$107k~18K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Ensure the safe takeoff and landing of commercial and military aircraft.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Air Traffic Controller occupations on the aviation & aircraft side—a natural next step.
$113,080/yr median~53K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Air Traffic Controller occupations on the aviation & aircraft side—a natural next step.
$219,140/yr median~94K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Air Traffic Controller occupations on the aviation & aircraft side—a natural next step.
$71,130/yr mediantypical $55k–$99k~46K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Air Traffic Controller occupations on the transportation & logistics side—a natural next step.
$58,920/yr mediantypical $46k–$91k~9K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Supervise and coordinate the activities of ground crew in the loading, unloading, securing, and staging of aircraft cargo or baggage.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Air Traffic Controller occupations on the transportation & logistics side—a natural next step.
$74,770/yr mediantypical $59k–$93k~32K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Air Traffic Controller occupations on the transportation & logistics side—a natural next step.
Source: O*NET / DMDC Military Crosswalk and O*NET related-occupations data, August 2024. Pay is BLS OEWS (May 2023).
Adjacent and stretch fields where your experience gives you a credible starting point.
$137,380/yr medianAir Traffic Controllers (representative)
Why it fits: Military ATC experience is a recognized qualification route for FAA controller hiring.
What it takes: FAA medical, background, and (age/experience) requirements apply.
Explore this route →$137,380/yr medianAir Traffic Controllers (representative)
Why it fits: Airfield coordination and safety transfer to airport operations.
What it takes: Document facilities and traffic volume.
Explore this route →$137,380/yr medianAir Traffic Controllers (representative)
Why it fits: Flight-data and coordination experience support dispatch.
What it takes: An FAA Aircraft Dispatcher certificate is required.
Explore this route →$83,960/yr medianEmergency Management Directors (representative)
Why it fits: Calm, high-tempo communications transfer to public-safety dispatch.
What it takes: State dispatcher certification.
Explore this route →$137,380/yr medianAir Traffic Controllers (representative)
Why it fits: Airspace management supports drone-program roles.
What it takes: FAA Part 107 for small UAS.
Explore this route →Why it fits: ATC experience supports federal aviation series.
What it takes: Target the specialized experience.
Explore this route →Use the level that reflects what you actually did—not rank alone. Two people with the same code and very different experience should not submit the same résumé.
Lead with hands-on tasks, tools, equipment, qualifications, safety discipline, and the conditions in which you performed. Do not inflate supervisory scope.
Add team leadership, training, inspections, work allocation, quality control, readiness, and the people or assets you directly supervised.
Emphasize multi-team operations, schedules, resource forecasting, safety systems, policy enforcement, advising leaders, and organization-level results.
A translated title isn't enough. These four moves turn Air Traffic Controller experience into evidence a civilian hiring manager can act on.
List the systems, vehicles, equipment, and tools you personally operated as Air Traffic Controller—plus qualifications, certifications, and the recurring high-stakes tasks you owned.
Sailors led, dollar value of equipment you were accountable for, workload, readiness rates, and safety or quality outcomes. Scope beats adjectives.
For any target role, name the license, degree, or software it requires and start now—your GI Bill and credentialing assistance can cover most of it.
Recruiters rarely search “AC.” Search job boards by the equipment, skills, and outcomes above as much as by “Air Traffic Controller.”
You don't have to make this jump alone. These programs exist specifically to move service members into civilian careers—most are free, and several pay you while you train.
Train or intern with a civilian employer during your last ~180 days on active duty—at full military pay.
Earn a paycheck while you train for a trade or technical role; USMAP can credit the military training you already have.
Corporate fellowships and hiring events that place transitioning service members and military spouses.
Free career training and nationally recognized certifications for service members, veterans, and spouses.
VA-funded high-tech training (IT, cyber, data, software) that does not touch your GI Bill entitlement.
Free local career centers plus certification and state-by-state license finders for any field.
Logistics, operations, and driver pathways that actively recruit veterans.
How to use this: Treat these as targets, not limits. Your exact duties depend on your assignments, so lead with what you actually did—and remember that regulated careers require their own license, certification, or degree.