Airfield Operations Specialists vs Passenger Attendants: $57K vs $38K Median Pay

Airfield Operations Specialists vs Passenger Attendants: what changes?

Consider Airfield Operations Specialists if you want to ensure the safe takeoff and landing of commercial and military aircraft. Consider Passenger Attendants if you would rather provide services to ensure the safety of passengers aboard ships, buses, trains, or within the station or terminal. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Airfield Operations Specialists and Passenger Attendants. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Airfield Operations Specialists

National median pay (2025): $56,850
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Inspect airfield conditions to ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,500

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (15,300 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Airfield Operations Specialists brief

Passenger Attendants

National median pay (2025): $37,720
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Secure passengers for transportation by buckling seatbelts or fastening wheelchairs with tie-down straps.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 4,300

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Passenger Attendants brief

How the national numbers differ

Airfield Operations Specialists has the edge on median pay

Airfield Operations Specialists is at $56,850, compared with $37,720 for Passenger Attendants.

Passenger Attendants has the edge on annual openings

Passenger Attendants is at 4,300 annual openings, compared with 1,500 annual openings for Airfield Operations Specialists.

Typical preparation differs.

Airfield Operations Specialists: High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Passenger Attendants: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Airfield Operations Specialists has the edge on projected growth

Airfield Operations Specialists is at 7.8% projected growth, compared with 6% projected growth for Passenger Attendants.

49.6/ 100

Airfield Operations Specialists

48.9/ 100

Passenger Attendants

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Airfield Operations Specialists vs Passenger Attendants

Dimension	Airfield Operations Specialists	Passenger Attendants
Median pay (2025)	$56,850	$37,720
Pay percentile	42 percentile	7.9 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	7.8%	6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	1,500	4,300
2025 employment	15,300	27,200
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Airfield Operations Specialists brief Read Passenger Attendants brief

Airfield Operations Specialists vs Passenger Attendants: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Airfield Operations Specialists

Passenger Attendants

How the national numbers differ

Airfield Operations Specialists has the edge on median pay

Passenger Attendants has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Airfield Operations Specialists has the edge on projected growth

Airfield Operations Specialists vs Passenger Attendants

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