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Airports & Airport Authorities
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
Airfield Operations Specialists
Airfield operations specialists keep runways, taxiways, and airfield access areas safe and organized so aircraft can move without delays or surprises. The job is a mix of inspections, radio coordination, emergency response, and weather-driven decisions, with a constant tradeoff between moving traffic fast and stopping operations when something looks unsafe.
Also known as Airport Operations SpecialistAirport Operations CoordinatorAirfield Operations OfficerAirfield Management SpecialistAirport Operations Technician
Median Salary
$56,750
Mean $67,120
U.S. Workforce
~17K
1.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.2%
16.9K to 17.6K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Airfield Operations Specialists sits in the Government category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~17K workers, with a median annual pay of $56,750 and roughly 1.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 16.9 K in 2024 to 17.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Airport Operations Assistant and can progress toward Airfield Operations Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Airport Operations Monitoring Systems, NOTAMs & Airfield Logs, Airfield Inspection Checklists & Safety Compliance Procedures, and Radio Communications & ATC Coordination Systems, paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Monitoring, and Coordination.
Core Responsibilities
- Inspect runways, taxiways, fences, and perimeter access points for hazards, damage, or security problems.
- Stay in contact with air traffic control, maintenance crews, and other airport teams so everyone is working from the same plan.
- Respond quickly when there is an aircraft problem, injury, or other emergency on the airfield.
- Organize snow removal, deicing, and other weather-related work that keeps the airport usable.
Keep exploring: more Government careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Inspect runways, taxiways, fences, and perimeter access points for hazards, damage, or security problems.
02 Stay in contact with air traffic control, maintenance crews, and other airport teams so everyone is working from the same plan.
03 Respond quickly when there is an aircraft problem, injury, or other emergency on the airfield.
04 Organize snow removal, deicing, and other weather-related work that keeps the airport usable.
05 Oversee day-to-day airfield activity, including shift handoffs, field checks, and follow-up on safety issues.
06 Train new operations staff and make sure shift notes and incident records are complete.
Industries That Hire
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Commercial Airlines
Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines
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Cargo & Freight Aviation
FedEx, UPS, Amazon Air
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Defense & Military Aviation
U.S. Air Force, Boeing, Lockheed Martin
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Government Aviation Agencies
Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field without a degree, and BLS says long-term on-the-job training is typical.
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The pay is solid for a non-degree role, with a median annual wage of $56,750 and a mean of $67,120.
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Work is varied: one shift may be routine inspections, while another may involve storms, emergencies, or runway closures.
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The job gives you direct responsibility for safety, so your work has a visible impact on aircraft and passengers.
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Projected growth is steady, and the 1.6K annual openings suggest regular replacement demand even in a small occupation.
Challenges
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Growth is modest at 4.2% through 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field with lots of new openings.
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The occupation is small, with only about 16,640 workers now, which means opportunities can be concentrated in certain airports or regions.
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The median pay of $56,750 is respectable, but it may feel limited for a job that carries real safety responsibility and pressure.
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The work is on-site and often weather-driven, so nights, weekends, holidays, snow events, and emergency callouts are part of the job.
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Career advancement can be narrow unless you move into supervision or airport management, so staying in the same specialty may not lead to much salary growth.
Career Progression
Airport Operations Assistant
0-2 years
$38K-$48K
New workers learn the layout of the airfield, basic radio procedures, inspection routines, and how to log problems correctly.
Airfield Operations Specialist
2-5 years
$49K-$65K
Workers at this level handle inspections, coordinate with other airport teams, and help keep runway and taxiway operations moving safely.
Senior Airfield Operations Specialist THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$66K-$82K
Experienced specialists take on harder incidents, lead shift coverage, and help train newer staff during busy or weather-affected operations.
Airfield Operations Supervisor
9+ years
$83K-$103K
Supervisors manage staffing, compliance, and major disruptions, and they make final calls when airport safety or access is at stake.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
BLS lists this as the typical entry point, usually followed by long-term on-the-job training.
Some college courses in aviation, public safety, or emergency management
This is the most common O*NET education level in the profile, held by 14.7% of workers.
Associate's degree in aviation management or airport operations
A smaller share of workers follow this route, at 0.61% in the O*NET distribution.
Airport operations certificate or military airfield operations training
A practical alternative for people who want direct, job-focused preparation without a full degree.
Key Skills
Technical
Airport Operations Monitoring Systems, NOTAMs & Airfield Logs 88%
Airfield Inspection Checklists & Safety Compliance Procedures 86%
Radio Communications & ATC Coordination Systems 84%
Runway Condition Reporting, Snow Removal Planning & Deicing Coordination 80%
Emergency Response Procedures & Incident Reporting Software 78%
Access Control, Perimeter Security & CCTV Systems 74%
Soft Skills
Active listeningMonitoringCoordinationCritical thinkingSpeakingWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+4.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 16.9K to 17.6 K over the next decade, representing 4.2% growth. Around 1.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.