NOC 72601: Air traffic controllers and related occupations
What air traffic controllers and related occupations do
Air traffic controllers direct air traffic within assigned airspace, and control moving aircraft and service vehicles at airports. Flight service specialists provide pilots with flight information essential to aviation safety. Flight dispatchers authorize airline flights over assigned routes. Air traffic controllers and flight service specialists are employed by NAV Canada and the Canadian Forces. Flight dispatchers are employed by airline and air services companies and by the Canadian Forces.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Air traffic controllers
- Control flow of air traffic within assigned airspace using radar monitors, radio and other communication equipment and visual references
- Issue aircraft takeoff and landing instructions to pilots and relay meteorological, navigational and other information to pilots in flight
- Maintain radio and telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units and other area control centres, and coordinate movement of aircraft into adjoining areas
- Alert airport emergency services when aircraft are experiencing difficulties and report missing aircraft to search and rescue services
- Direct activities of all moving aircraft and service vehicles on or near airport runways.
- Flight service specialists
- Provide pre-flight information concerning current and forecast weather conditions, radio frequencies, terrain, airports and related data to assist pilots in preparation of flight plans
- Check flight plans for completeness and accuracy and forward flight plans to air traffic services facility
- Respond to radio calls from aircraft preparing for takeoff or landing and supply information such as weather conditions, wind speed and direction and presence of local air traffic
- Support air traffic control operations by relaying radio requests for flight clearances, arrival and departure information and position reports
- Alert airport emergency services of aircraft experiencing difficulties and initiate communication searches when aircraft become overdue
- Observe, record and report weather conditions at airports.
- Flight dispatchers
- Analyze environmental conditions and assess aircraft for load and fuel capacity and other factors to determine flight routes
- Brief flight crew before takeoff on weather conditions, status of navigational facilities and airports while on route
- Co-sign flight authorization with aircraft captain
- Monitor progress of flight and communicate as required with aircraft during flight
- Delay or cancel flights if conditions warrant
- Prepare and maintain flight plans, flight logs and other reports.
Job titles under NOC 72601
20 job titles are classified here, including air traffic controller (ATC), airport air traffic controller, enroute air traffic controller.
- aerospace control operator - Canadian Armed Forces
- air traffic control assistant
- air traffic control chief
- air traffic control officer
- air traffic controller (ATC)
- air traffic controller (ATC) - Canadian Armed Forces
- air traffic coordinator
- airline dispatcher
- airport air traffic controller
- chief air traffic controller
- enroute air traffic controller
- flight dispatch assistant
- flight dispatcher
- flight operations officer
- flight service specialist (FSS)
- head air traffic controller
- instrument flight rules air traffic controller
- terminal air traffic controller
- tower controller - air traffic
- visual flight rules air traffic controller
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- A basic radio telephone operator's licence is required.
- Air traffic controllers and flight service specialists require completion of a NAV Canada training program which includes structured in-class and on-the-job training.
- Air traffic controllers require an air traffic controller's licence.
- Flight dispatchers may require experience in air traffic control or flight operations and may require a private pilot's licence.
Air traffic controllers and related occupations wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $25.25/hr | $54.88/hr | $106.19/hr |
Toronto ON | $26.47/hr | $51.71/hr | $93.47/hr |
Montréal QC | $25.65/hr | $50.24/hr | $82.53/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $34.28/hr | $65.55/hr | $96.63/hr |
Calgary AB | $26.14/hr | $53.11/hr | $83.51/hr |
Edmonton AB | $39.11/hr | $67.88/hr | $102.27/hr |
Ottawa ON | $34.50/hr | $56.35/hr | $90.92/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $35.88/hr | $71.74/hr | $100.97/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $26.85/hr | $47.84/hr | $83.21/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $40.51/hr | $67.19/hr | $109.40/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $42.39/hr | $73.95/hr | $112.33/hr |
London ON | $34.50/hr | $54.73/hr | $76.27/hr |
Halifax NS | $34.53/hr | $52.92/hr | $90.91/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $32.24/hr | $54.07/hr | $77.85/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $35.70/hr | $70.70/hr | $107.83/hr |
Nova Scotia | $26.64/hr | $44.88/hr | $70.56/hr |
New Brunswick | $39.08/hr | $75.19/hr | $103.00/hr |
Quebec | $26.85/hr | $47.84/hr | $83.21/hr |
Ontario | $27.38/hr | $52.96/hr | $101.19/hr |
Manitoba | $31.95/hr | $64.29/hr | $105.26/hr |
Saskatchewan | $30.30/hr | $43.91/hr | $67.39/hr |
Alberta | $27.31/hr | $56.72/hr | $98.93/hr |
British Columbia | $29.87/hr | $54.95/hr | $97.61/hr |
Using NOC 72601 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 20 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for air traffic controllers and related occupations?
Air traffic controllers and related occupations are NOC 2021 unit group 72601. Example job titles in this group include air traffic controller (ATC), airport air traffic controller, enroute air traffic controller, flight dispatcher.
What TEER is NOC 72601?
NOC 72601 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do air traffic controllers and related occupations earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $54.88/hr, about $107,000 a year full-time, with a range of $25.25/hr to $106.19/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.