Runs a public-use airport, overseeing safety, operations, leases, budgets, federal grants and relations with airlines, tenants and the community. BLS does not publish separate figures for airfield operations specialists; it counts them within airfield operations specialist (SOC 53-2022), whose median pay is $56,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 53-2022
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Airport Manager in four numbers
- Median pay
- $56,850a year, or $27.33/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $36KTop 10% $102K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +7.8%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+7.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +7.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,50015,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202515.3K
- Projected 203516.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 15.3K Projected 2035 16.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school33.8%
- Some college14.7%
- Associate's0.6%
- Bachelor's50.9%
Highest education held by airfield operations specialists Segment Value High school 33.8% Some college 14.7% Associate's 0.6% Bachelor's 50.9%
Also advertised as: Airport Director, Airport Executive Director, Aviation Director, Assistant Airport Manager, General Aviation Airport Manager.
Pay
How much do Airfield Operations Specialists make?
Every airport manager in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$56,850
Middle half earn $42,000 to $77,340
- 10th
- $35,870
- 25th
- $42,000
- 75th
- $77,340
- 90th
- $102,120
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,870 |
| 25th | $42,000 |
| Median | $56,850 |
| 75th | $77,340 |
| 90th | $102,120 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $56,850
- Median hourly wage
- $27.33/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $63,610
- People employed
- 15,190
Versus all US occupations
At $56,850, Airfield Operations Specialists earn 12% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $5,870 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 10% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $102,120 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,870, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 28% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Kentucky pays the most at $123,290, and still leads at $136,747 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Airfield Operations Specialists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Kentucky | $123,290 | $136,747 | 290 |
| 2Washington | $84,050 | $78,542 | 150 |
| 3Alabama | $78,590 | $88,479 | N/A |
| 4Arizona | $77,570 | $77,048 | 160 |
| 5Colorado | $77,500 | $75,205 | 70 |
| 6Oregon | $75,130 | $72,687 | 50 |
| 7Virginia | $72,250 | $71,461 | 280 |
| 8Alaska | $71,510 | $69,862 | 160 |
| 9New Mexico | $69,090 | $74,925 | 50 |
| 10Georgia | $66,790 | $69,361 | 340 |
Job outlook
Is Airport Manager a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +7.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airfield Operations Specialists | +7.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Airfield Operations Specialists to change 7.8% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.2× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,500 openings are projected each year, 9.8% of the 15,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Airport Manager
A bachelor's degree in aviation management, business or public administration is the usual starting point, and many managers begin as airport operations officers, interns or in airline or military aviation roles before moving up.
The American Association of Airport Executives offers the Certified Member and Accredited Airport Executive programs. The A.A.E. requires work at a public-use airport, a long multiple-choice exam, a writing requirement such as a management research paper, and a final interview with a panel of accredited executives. Knowledge of FAA airport certification rules, grant assurances and airport finance is what employers test for.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as airfield operations specialists.
- Bachelor's Degree50.9%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)33.8%
- Some College Courses14.7%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree0.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 50.9% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 33.8% |
| Some College Courses | 14.7% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Airport Manager do?
Airport managers are responsible for everything that happens on an airport that is not inside an aircraft. They make sure the runways, lighting, fuel farms and terminals meet FAA certification and safety requirements, negotiate leases with airlines, fixed-base operators and hangar tenants, and set rates and charges that keep the airport financially self-supporting.
Much of the job is planning and funding. Managers apply for FAA Airport Improvement Program grants, work with consultants on master plans and environmental reviews, and present projects to city councils or airport boards. At a small general aviation field the manager may also mow, inspect the runway and sell fuel. At larger airports they lead departments covering operations, security, maintenance and finance.
Day-to-day tasks
- Oversee airfield inspections and compliance with FAA airport certification requirements
- Prepare operating and capital budgets and set rates for tenants and users
- Apply for and administer FAA Airport Improvement Program grants
- Negotiate leases and operating agreements with airlines, fixed-base operators and hangar tenants
- Direct emergency response planning and drills with fire, police and medical partners
- Present plans and projects to airport boards, city councils and the public
- Supervise operations, maintenance and security staff
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Airport managers work in airport administration offices with frequent trips onto the airfield and into terminals. Airports never close, so managers are on call for weather events, accidents and security incidents. The job involves many public meetings with elected officials, tenants and neighbors, and some travel to industry conferences.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Instructing3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Time Management3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Airport Manager?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ECS) built on O*NET's Airfield Operations Specialist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Airport Manager |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional5.1
- Enterprising4.9
- Realistic4.5
- Investigative3.5
- Social3.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Airport Manager
O*NET related occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- First-Line Supervisor of Passenger Attendants · $62,840 median
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with airfield operations specialists highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Airport Manager$56,850
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Airport Manager | $56,850 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Airport Manager appears on
Questions
Airport Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Airfield Operations Specialists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for airfield operations specialists. It counts them within airfield operations specialist, whose median pay is $56,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $42,000 and $77,340, and the top 10% earn $102,120 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Airport Manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Airfield Operations Specialists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.9% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Airport Manager a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.8% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Airport Manager do?
Airport managers are responsible for everything that happens on an airport that is not inside an aircraft. A typical task: oversee airfield inspections and compliance with FAA airport certification requirements. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Airfield Operations Specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Airfield Operations Specialists are Kentucky ($123,290), Washington ($84,050), Alabama ($78,590) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Airport Manager?
O*NET scores Airfield Operations Specialists highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.