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Communication equipment operators

How to become an Air Traffic Controller

Gives pilots instructions and clearances by radio to keep safe distances between aircraft, and between aircraft and vehicles, and to keep air traffic flowing efficiently.

Workers in this job say university or high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

Air traffic control is run by the national government, so all air traffic controllers are national public servants. You must pass the air traffic controller recruitment exam (a specialist national public service exam at university graduate level), be hired by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and then complete set training in aviation law, control methods, radar and meteorology. For the university graduate category, applicants must be under 30. There are medical standards for eyesight, hearing and so on at hiring. After being hired, you train for eight months at the Aeronautical Safety College (in Izumisano, Osaka). After training you are posted to an air traffic control facility, such as an airport or air traffic control centre somewhere in Japan. After several months to several years of on-the-job training there, you are appointed as an air traffic controller once you pass a skills test. Controller ratings are specific to each workplace, so you must train and sit tests again each time you move. Some controllers also do research and planning work on air traffic control and aviation policy, teach at the college or work for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). You need English skills to communicate with pilots, knowledge of aircraft performance and weather, and knowledge of aviation law and international rules. Concentration and accurate judgement are also needed.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Air Traffic Controller?

Air traffic control is run by the national government, so all air traffic controllers are national public servants. You must pass the air traffic controller recruitment exam (a specialist national public service exam at university graduate level), be hired by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and then complete set training in aviation law, control methods, radar and meteorology. For the university graduate category, applicants must be under 30. There are medical standards for eyesight, hearing and so on at hiring. After being hired, you train for eight months at the Aeronautical Safety College (in Izumisano, Osaka). After training you are posted to an air traffic control facility, such as an airport or air traffic control centre somewhere in Japan. After several months to several years of on-the-job training there, you are appointed as an air traffic controller once you pass a skills test. Controller ratings are specific to each workplace, so you must train and sit tests again each time you move. Some controllers also do research and planning work on air traffic control and aviation policy, teach at the college or work for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). You need English skills to communicate with pilots, knowledge of aircraft performance and weather, and knowledge of aviation law and international rules. Concentration and accurate judgement are also needed.

How much does an Air Traffic Controller earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,833,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Specialist professionals not classified elsewhere, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an Air Traffic Controller?

Not always. In this job's census occupation group, 45% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: Engineering degrees; Science degrees.

Will AI change the work of an Air Traffic Controller?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026