NOC 72601: Air traffic controllers and related occupations

What is NOC 72601?

NOC 72601 is the code for air traffic controllers and related occupations in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include air traffic controller (ATC), airport air traffic controller, enroute air traffic controller and flight dispatcher. It is a TEER 2 occupation (usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $54.88 an hour.

NOC code

72601

TEER

2: College diploma or apprenticeship of 2+ years

Broad category

Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

Express Entry

Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)

Category draws

None

Median wage

$54.88 an hour

Job titles under NOC 72601

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 job titles

• air traffic controller (ATC)
• airport air traffic controller
• enroute air traffic controller
• flight dispatcher
• flight service specialist (FSS)
• instrument flight rules air traffic controller
• terminal air traffic controller
• visual flight rules air traffic controller

All 20 job titles in the NOC index

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.

Main duties of NOC 72601

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.

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.

Additional information

• Air traffic controllers with experience and appropriate NAV Canada endorsements may move to units with higher volumes of air traffic.

Is NOC 72601 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 2 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.

Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.

How much does NOC 72601 pay?

Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.

Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2024 (Small Area Estimation). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.

Similar NOC codes to compare

If your work leans toward one of these, read its duties too. The closest match is the one whose lead statement and main duties describe most of what you did.

Classified somewhere else

• Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators: 72604 Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators

Same minor group (7260 Transportation officers and controllers)

• 72600 Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors, TEER 2
• 72602 Deck officers, water transport, TEER 2
• 72603 Engineer officers, water transport, TEER 2
• 72604 Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators, TEER 2

Match my duties with AI

Using NOC 72601 duties on your resume

Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.

For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 72601 as you write.

• Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
• Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
• Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.

Turn my duties into a resume Free to start, no card.

Where this information comes from

Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.

Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.

Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NOC code for a air traffic controller (ATC)?

NOC 72601, Air traffic controllers and related occupations, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.

What TEER is NOC 72601?

TEER 2. Usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.

Is NOC 72601 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes. As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.

Is NOC 72601 in an Express Entry category-based draw?

No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.

How much does NOC 72601 pay in Canada?

The Job Bank median across Canada is $54.88 an hour, with most wages between $25.25 and $106.19. Pay varies by province: see the table above.

Where is the official description?

On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 72601 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.

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More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes

• NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
• NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
• TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
• Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
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