💡 Why it matters: Every flight depends on controllers who keep planes safely apart and in order. As air traffic grows, airports and airspace need trained controllers.
🌍 Around the world
- Nigeria: Airports and airspace in Nigeria need trained controllers as air traffic grows.
- United States: Jobs for air traffic controllers are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦3M – ₦7M
- Mid-career
- ₦8M – ₦18M
- Senior
- ₦18M – ₦35M
≈ ₦667k – ₦1.5M a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇺🇸 United States
Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Tell pilots when to take off, land and change height
- Track planes on radar screens and keep them safely apart
- Share weather and runway information
- Handle emergencies quickly and clearly
- Hand flights over to the next control centre
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Concentration
- Quick thinking
- Clear communication
- Staying calm
- Spatial awareness
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Direct recruitment into the national air navigation agency followed by approved controller training
- Controller diploma courses at aviation training colleges
- Entry is through WAEC or NECO (secondary school exam) results and JAMB (UTME, the national university entrance exam)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Trainee schemes run by NATS and some airports (a degree is not always required)
- Forces route, such as the RAF
🇺🇸 United States
- Direct FAA hiring when it opens applications (there are age limits, so check the current rules)
- Military air traffic control training
🇨🇦 Canada
- Apply to NAV CANADA's air traffic controller training program
- Military air traffic controller roles
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Maths, Physics and English well
- 2Apply to an approved air traffic controller programme
- 3Pass the selection tests and medical
- 4Train in simulators and then in a real control room under supervision
- 5Earn your controller licence and add ratings (approach, area control)
⏰ A day in the life
You take over a shift from a colleague and check the weather and runway. Then you guide planes to land and take off, answering pilots by radio. Every few hours you take a short break to keep your focus sharp.