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Air Transport Professionals

Air Transport Professionals fly and navigate aircraft, control and direct air traffic to ensure the safe and efficient operation of aircraft in flight and on the ground, and instruct students in flying aircraft.

Transport & logisticsLicensed workANZSCO 2311
$2,651/wkMedian full-time pay
17kPeople employed
+14% ▲Growth to 2035
74%Work full time
44Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 2311.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

preparing and submitting flight plans giving consideration to factors such as weather conditions and aircraft performanceflying aircraft in accordance with established air traffic control and aircraft operating proceduresproviding flight information for flight crews and air traffic services staffcontrolling aircraft movements, and directing aircraft taxiing, take-offs and landings by radioproviding pre-flight briefings and aeronautical information servicescompleting cockpit preparations and external inspections to determine that aircraft are acceptable for flight
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 2311 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 2,100 more people in air transport professionals by 2035 ▲

The field grew 3% in the year to February 2026, adding about 500 workers. Most of the jobs are in NSW and QLD, with VIC third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 2311.More about our sources: How we check our facts
15.5k2025
16.4k2030 PROJ.
17.6k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

There is no single way in. 45% trained through VET, 37% hold a degree.

Both paths are common in this field. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 2311. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

AVI50519Diploma

Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating)

Aviation Training Package · licensed work.

See 35 providers
AVI50222Diploma

Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane)

Aviation Training Package · licensed work.

See 34 providers
AVI50419Diploma

Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor)

Aviation Training Package · licensed work.

See 15 providers

Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.

See all 9 mapped courses
AVI50519Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating) · 35 providers
AVI50222Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) · 34 providers
AVI50419Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor) · 15 providers
AVI50322Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter) · 8 providers
AVI60219Advanced Diploma of Aviation (Pilot in Command) · 7 providers
AVI40122Certificate IV in Aviation (Supervision) · 5 providers
AVI40225Certificate IV in Airborne Operations · 3 providers
AVI50115Diploma of Aviation (Air Traffic Control) · 0 providers
AVI59922Diploma of Aviation (Chief Remote Pilot) · 0 providers

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

17k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 2311.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

NSW4.2k
QLD3.7k
VIC2.9k
WA2.1k
SA0.9k
NT0.5k
TAS0.3k
ACT0.2k