- Salary statistics
- Traffic controllers, flights salary
Traffic controllers, flights salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
64 000 - 92 100 SEK / month
Women earn 110% of what men do.
Transport
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Salary progression Traffic controllers, flights
What does a flight traffic controller do – tasks and work environment
A flight traffic controller is responsible for planning, monitoring, and coordinating air traffic within their airspace or at a specific airport. Tasks include issuing instructions to pilots, managing flight routes, assessing weather conditions, and ensuring safety regulations are followed. The role requires direct communication with pilots and other traffic controllers to minimize incident risks and optimize air traffic flow. The work environment is high-tech, often located in control towers or operations centers, where work is conducted in shifts and during periods of high tempo and concentration.
Salary development over time
The salary for a flight traffic controller has steadily increased over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 76,700 SEK per month, slightly rising to 81 400 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the salary has taken a larger jump to 83 500 SEK per month, representing an increase of approximately 5.7% compared to the previous year. This positive trend can largely be explained by increased demand for qualified air traffic control, technological changes, and a growing need for safety expertise in the aviation sector. Educational requirements have also been tightened, influencing salary levels upward. The market for qualified traffic controllers has been stable, but competition for the most experienced controllers drives salaries higher.
Flight traffic controller salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 83 500 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 62,200 SEK/month (male, public sector, high school education)
- Highest salary: 88,700 SEK/month (female, private sector, post-secondary education 3+ years)
- Hourly wage: 490 SEK
- Women earn: 88 100 SEK/month (110% of men's salary)
- Men earn: 80 300 SEK/month
- Regional differences: No data available on larger geographical variations
Education and qualifications
The path to becoming a flight traffic controller involves specialized training in air traffic management, often at a post-secondary level. Formal requirements include a completed high school diploma with a focus on science or technical subjects, along with approved training at an authorized air traffic control school. In addition to theoretical components, extensive practical training and ongoing certification are required. Approved medical and psychological tests are mandatory to ensure suitability for the high demands on concentration and stress tolerance.
- Post-secondary education: Air traffic control training (about 2–3 years)
- Certification: Approved practical and theoretical exams, with ongoing re-certification
- Practical training: Trainee period under supervision of experienced instructors
- Prerequisites: Completed high school education, often with a science or technical background
- Medical tests: Mandatory health examinations and psychological suitability tests
Flight traffic controllers often work in shifts, including nights, weekends, and major holidays. This requires high adaptability and good sleep hygiene, but also allows for days off and flexibility for leisure activities.
Common benefits and compensations
Flight traffic controllers are often offered benefits such as extra vacation days, generous overtime pay, wellness allowances, and occupational pension schemes. Since the work involves shift work and sometimes inconvenient hours, per diems and special insurances may also be included in the employment package. Some employers additionally offer subsidized lunches, training opportunities, and access to recreational facilities.
Competition and challenges
Competition for places in training programs and the job market for flight traffic controllers is high, mainly due to the limited number of training spots. The high formal and medical requirements mean only a small proportion of applicants are eligible. The work environment is characterized by high tempo, significant responsibility, and constant concentration, which can be challenging over time. Rapid technological developments also require continuous retraining. Despite this, the profession remains attractive due to good salary conditions and the opportunity to work in an international environment.
Tips for aspiring flight traffic controllers
To succeed as a flight traffic controller, it is important to have excellent stress management skills, as the work often involves quick decisions under pressure. Strong concentration and attention to detail are crucial for quickly detecting and managing changes in air traffic. Flexibility and adaptability are needed, as shift work and irregular hours are common. Being communicative and clear is important, as the role requires constant contact with pilots and colleagues. Finally, technical interest and a willingness to continuously learn are key factors to keep up with developments and new safety procedures in air traffic management.
Key facts about flight traffic controllers
- Average salary: 83 500 SEK/month
- Education level: Post-secondary education (2–3 years) with certification
- Work environment: Shift work in control rooms or towers, high safety focus
- Women's share of salary: 110% of men's salary
- Job openings in the profession: 412 positions (May 2024)
Career paths and future outlook
After three to five years as a flight traffic controller, opportunities arise for more specialized roles, such as instructor, training manager, or supervisory positions. Some choose to advance into leadership roles within air traffic management or work internationally. Forecasts from the Employment Service indicate that there is insufficient data for an exact assessment, but the number of available positions suggests continued stable demand. Technological advances and increased safety requirements are expected to sustain the need for skilled traffic controllers in aviation.
Common questions about flight traffic controllers
- What does a flight traffic controller earn?
- A traffic controller in aviation has an average salary of 83 500 SEK per month, with variation depending on experience, education, and sector. - How do you become a flight traffic controller?
- The profession requires post-secondary education in air traffic control, approved tests and certification, as well as practical training. - Are there differences between men's and women's salaries?
- Yes, women have an average salary of 88 100 SEK per month, which corresponds to 110% of men's salaries. - What are the working hours for a flight traffic controller?
- Work is shift-based, including nights, weekends, and major holidays. - What are the future prospects?
- The profession is expected to maintain stable demand, but an exact forecast is unavailable due to limited data. - What is the highest and lowest salary?
- The highest salary is 88,700 SEK per month (female, private sector, post-secondary education), and the lowest is 62,200 SEK (male, public sector, high school education). - How many job openings are available?
- There are approximately 412 available positions within the air traffic controller profession.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 72700 kr | 81800 kr | |
| 45-54 | 86500 kr | 94700 kr | |
| 55-64 | 85600 kr | 94900 kr | |
| Snitt | 110% | 75600 kr | 83500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 44500 kr | 48100 kr | |
| 25-34 | 103% | 54900 kr | 58500 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 79300 kr | 83900 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 88200 kr | 92100 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 90100 kr | 93500 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 82100 kr | 86000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 44500 kr | 48100 kr | |
| 25-34 | 103% | 54900 kr | 58500 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 79300 kr | 83900 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 88200 kr | 92100 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 90100 kr | 93500 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 82100 kr | 86000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 71400 kr | 80400 kr | |
| 45-54 | 86000 kr | 95700 kr | |
| Snitt | 110% | 72800 kr | 80300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 44400 kr | 48000 kr | |
| 25-34 | 103% | 54400 kr | 58000 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 79200 kr | 83700 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 89200 kr | 93200 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 91100 kr | 94400 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 81100 kr | 85000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 44400 kr | 48000 kr | |
| 25-34 | 103% | 54400 kr | 58000 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 79200 kr | 83700 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 89200 kr | 93200 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 91100 kr | 94400 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 81100 kr | 85000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 110% | 79700 kr | 88100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 103% | 55900 kr | 59700 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 79700 kr | 84500 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 86800 kr | 90300 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 89300 kr | 92800 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 83800 kr | 87500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 103% | 55900 kr | 59700 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 79700 kr | 84500 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 86800 kr | 90300 kr |
| 55-64 | 98% | 89300 kr | 92800 kr |
| Snitt | 103% | 83800 kr | 87500 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Traffic controllers, flights has the SSYK code 3154, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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