Terminal D at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport [AirlineGeeks/ William Derrickson]
Key Takeaways:
Airport managers are crucial for ensuring the safe, smooth, and compliant 24/7 operation of airports, overseeing everything from airfield maintenance to regulatory adherence.
Becoming an airport manager often requires a degree in aviation management or equivalent experience (e.g., FBO management, FAA roles), with professional accreditation like an Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) involving exams, projects, and prior airport work.
Salaries vary by airport size and location, averaging around $46,280 in the U.S., but managers of larger airports can earn over $100,000, making it a potentially high-income career for aviation enthusiasts.
Besides operating aircraft, airports are also of course an important part of aviation.
Airports must run smoothly around the clock each and every day to allow aircraft to come and go with ease. From the biggest airports in the world to the small strip down the street, managers at each are essential to ensuring safe, consistent, and smooth operations around the clock.
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John McDermott is a student at Northwestern University. He is also a student pilot with hopes of flying for the airlines. A self-proclaimed ""avgeek,"" John will rave about aviation at length to whoever will listen, and he is keen to call out any airplane he sees, whether or not anyone around him cares about flying at all. John previously worked as a Journalist and Editor-In-Chief at Aeronautics Online Aviation News and Media. In his spare time, John enjoys running, photography, and watching planes approach Chicago O'Hare from over Lake Michigan.
