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Air traffic controller salary

BLS occupation: Air Traffic Controllers · Transportation and material moving · data for May 2025

Median salary $148,080 a year, US officialBLS, May 2025
Median hourly pay $71.19 an hour officialBLS
Middle half earn $104,520–$190,570 25th to 75th percentile officialBLS
Air traffic controllers employed 22,510 +1.7% projected by 2035 officialBLS

How much does an air traffic controller make?

  • The median air traffic controller salary in the US is $148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour): half of the 22,510 air traffic controllers BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $146,490.
  • The middle half earn between $104,520 and $190,570. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $78,420 and the top 10% more than $215,610.
  • That is 2.9 times the median for all US workers ($50,980).
  • Virginia pays air traffic controllers the most (median $191,820), followed by Illinois ($181,560) and Georgia ($178,420). The District of Columbia pays the least ($47,760).
  • After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in Virginia, where the median is worth $189,725 in typical US prices, then Georgia and Illinois.
  • In 35 of the 36 metro areas with data, the median air traffic controller salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
  • BLS projects the number of air traffic controllers to grow 1.7% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 2,100 openings a year. The typical entry education is an associate's degree.

official From BLS's survey of employers: what air traffic controllers are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.

How does your pay compare?

An estimate: BLS publishes pay at the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles (10th, 50th and 90th for states); we draw straight lines between them. Amounts under 1,000 are read as hourly × 2,080 hours.

Air traffic controller salary range

Half of air traffic controllers earn between $104,520 and $190,570 a year

Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.

Lowest 10% earn under
$78,420
Lowest 25% earn under
$104,520
Median
$148,080
Top 25% earn over
$190,570
Top 10% earn over
$215,610

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Show the numbers
Yearly pay
Lowest 10% earn under$78,420
Lowest 25% earn under$104,520
Median$148,080
Top 25% earn over$190,570
Top 10% earn over$215,610

Air traffic controller salary by state

Virginia pays air traffic controllers the most; the District of Columbia the least

Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($148,080), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.

Alabama: $114,960 median Alaska: $123,950 median Arizona: $136,800 median Colorado: $177,380 median Florida: $147,530 median Georgia: $178,420 median Indiana: $158,810 median Kansas: $159,700 median Maine: $107,270 median Massachusetts: $125,060 median Minnesota: $176,840 median New Jersey: $132,230 median North Carolina: $129,230 median North Dakota: $107,990 median Oklahoma: $123,220 median Pennsylvania: $132,350 median Texas: $170,080 median Wyoming: $93,580 median Connecticut: $140,940 median Missouri: $122,200 median Illinois: $181,560 median New Mexico: $148,550 median Arkansas: $109,760 median California: $160,080 median District of Columbia: $47,760 median Hawaii: $158,700 median Iowa: $90,790 median Kentucky: $127,800 median Maryland: $131,290 median Michigan: $118,930 median Mississippi: $88,110 median Montana: $101,380 median New York: $144,960 median Tennessee: $157,330 median Utah: $158,310 median Virginia: $191,820 median Washington: $162,570 median Nebraska: $111,710 median South Carolina: $112,030 median Nevada: $140,920 median Vermont: $109,140 median Louisiana: $99,810 median Rhode Island: $126,300 median
  • 20%+ below US
  • 10–20% below
  • 3–10% below
  • Within 3%
  • 3–10% above
  • 10–20% above
  • 20%+ above US

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

Show the numbers
StateMedian pay
Virginia$191,820 median
Illinois$181,560 median
Georgia$178,420 median
Colorado$177,380 median
Minnesota$176,840 median
Texas$170,080 median
Washington$162,570 median
California$160,080 median
Kansas$159,700 median
Indiana$158,810 median
Hawaii$158,700 median
Utah$158,310 median
Tennessee$157,330 median
New Mexico$148,550 median
Florida$147,530 median
New York$144,960 median
Connecticut$140,940 median
Nevada$140,920 median
Arizona$136,800 median
Pennsylvania$132,350 median
New Jersey$132,230 median
Maryland$131,290 median
North Carolina$129,230 median
Kentucky$127,800 median
Rhode Island$126,300 median
Massachusetts$125,060 median
Alaska$123,950 median
Oklahoma$123,220 median
Missouri$122,200 median
Michigan$118,930 median
Alabama$114,960 median
South Carolina$112,030 median
Nebraska$111,710 median
Arkansas$109,760 median
Vermont$109,140 median
North Dakota$107,990 median
Maine$107,270 median
Montana$101,380 median
Louisiana$99,810 median
Wyoming$93,580 median
Iowa$90,790 median
Mississippi$88,110 median
District of Columbia$47,760 median

Where air traffic controller pay goes furthest

A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived

Air traffic controllers' pay goes furthest in Virginia once prices are counted

Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.

Virginia paid $191,820
$189,725
Georgia paid $178,420
$185,289
Illinois paid $181,560
$181,636
Minnesota paid $176,840
$179,313
Kansas paid $159,700
$177,310
Texas paid $170,080
$175,237
Colorado paid $177,380
$172,127
Tennessee paid $157,330
$171,253
Indiana paid $158,810
$170,161
New Mexico paid $148,550
$161,096

US median

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.

Show the numbers
Worth, in US prices
Virginia$189,725
Georgia$185,289
Illinois$181,636
Minnesota$179,313
Kansas$177,310
Texas$175,237
Colorado$172,127
Tennessee$171,253
Indiana$170,161
New Mexico$161,096

Air traffic controller pay in every state

StateMedian a yearHourlyLowest 10%Top 10% EmployedAfter cost of living
Virginia $191,820 $92.22 $94,330 $225,680 1,120 $189,725
Illinois $181,560 $87.29 $83,990 $225,680 990 $181,636
Georgia $178,420 $85.78 $90,940 $217,590 970 $185,289
Colorado $177,380 $85.28 $76,310 $213,950 740 $172,127
Minnesota $176,840 $85.02 $88,940 $218,190 680 $179,313
Texas $170,080 $81.77 $90,420 $222,230 2,060 $175,237
Washington $162,570 $78.16 $91,600 $209,270 620 $151,916
California $160,080 $76.96 $80,960 $225,680 2,290 $144,581
Kansas $159,700 $76.78 $82,060 $199,160 430 $177,310
Indiana $158,810 $76.35 $81,000 $200,640 630 $170,161
Hawaii $158,700 $76.30 $92,580 $205,000 210 $144,337
Utah $158,310 $76.11 $75,360 $186,180 360 $160,129
Tennessee $157,330 $75.64 $98,300 $198,790 590 $171,253
New Mexico $148,550 $71.42 $77,400 $187,790 350 $161,096
Florida $147,530 $70.93 $86,660 $195,960 1,950 $142,660
New York $144,960 $69.69 $74,320 $225,680 1,150 $134,320
Connecticut $140,940 $67.76 $95,180 $175,090 – $136,029
Nevada $140,920 $67.75 $80,600 $200,160 210 $140,950
Arizona $136,800 $65.77 $86,630 $195,980 380 $135,880
Pennsylvania $132,350 $63.63 $81,490 $225,680 460 $135,643
New Jersey $132,230 $63.57 $88,460 $209,730 190 $121,529
Maryland $131,290 $63.12 $96,600 $169,920 70 $125,087
North Carolina $129,230 $62.13 $88,690 $191,530 410 $137,004
Kentucky $127,800 $61.44 $66,150 $168,650 230 $141,750
Rhode Island $126,300 $60.72 $61,710 $150,180 50 $123,485
Massachusetts $125,060 $60.13 $82,150 $202,070 120 $118,252
Alaska $123,950 $59.59 $66,800 $191,690 490 $121,093
Oklahoma $123,220 $59.24 $78,340 $169,980 270 $140,273
Missouri $122,200 $58.75 $90,940 $166,610 260 $134,556
Michigan $118,930 $57.18 $80,430 $205,380 360 $123,606
Alabama $114,960 $55.27 $79,420 $159,640 240 $129,426
South Carolina $112,030 $53.86 $71,680 $142,830 190 $119,500
Nebraska $111,710 $53.71 $83,030 $147,990 70 $123,980
Arkansas $109,760 $52.77 $76,360 $134,430 80 $126,252
Vermont $109,140 $52.47 $90,500 $139,810 30 $111,415
North Dakota $107,990 $51.92 $58,470 $147,410 100 $121,393
Maine $107,270 $51.57 $46,550 $135,910 70 $110,531
Montana $101,380 $48.74 $75,130 $127,980 60 $107,116
Louisiana $99,810 $47.99 $75,130 $149,700 230 $113,154
Wyoming $93,580 $44.99 $75,130 $132,000 40 $100,959
Iowa $90,790 $43.65 $54,930 $121,720 120 $103,450
Mississippi $88,110 $42.36 $64,380 $127,170 160 $101,331
District of Columbia $47,760 $22.96 $47,760 $196,310 820 $43,457

BLS does not publish pay for air traffic controllers in 8 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).

Air traffic controller salary by city

Metro areas where BLS publishes air traffic controller pay: 36 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.

Highest-paying metro areas

  1. Philadelphia, PA $198,590
  2. Sacramento, CA $196,290
  3. San Francisco, CA $193,360
  4. Chicago, IL $189,780
  5. Atlanta, GA $186,640
  6. Dallas, TX $186,510
  7. Minneapolis, MN $179,670
  8. Detroit, MI $178,310
  9. Seattle, WA $175,280
  10. Washington, DC $174,870

Where the pay goes furthest

  1. Philadelphia, PA $193,644
  2. Atlanta, GA $186,532
  3. Sacramento, CA $184,016
  4. Chicago, IL $183,194
  5. Dallas, TX $180,920
  6. Indianapolis, IN $179,642
  7. Detroit, MI $177,780
  8. Kansas City, MO $174,730
  9. Minneapolis, MN $171,405
  10. Jacksonville, FL $171,002
All 36 metro areas
Metro areaMedian a yearEmployedAfter cost of livingRent share
Philadelphia, PA $198,590 220 $193,644 11%
Sacramento, CA $196,290 240 $184,016 14%
San Francisco, CA $193,360 430 $167,248 21%
Chicago, IL $189,780 850 $183,194 14%
Atlanta, GA $186,640 810 $186,532 12%
Dallas, TX $186,510 800 $180,920 11%
Minneapolis, MN $179,670 620 $171,405 12%
Detroit, MI $178,310 180 $177,780 10%
Seattle, WA $175,280 510 $157,721 15%
Washington, DC $174,870 1,800 $160,602 17%
Los Angeles, CA $173,020 690 $152,352 20%
Indianapolis, IN $171,910 470 $179,642 11%
Jacksonville, FL $170,120 450 $171,002 12%
Miami, FL $162,140 720 $142,035 20%
Kansas City, MO $161,700 430 $174,730 11%
Salt Lake City, UT $161,640 330 $160,249 12%
Phoenix, AZ $161,220 220 $156,046 13%
Anchorage, AK $160,970 280 $152,694 14%
Nashville, TN $155,540 60 $161,452 14%
Las Vegas, NV $155,500 170 $155,166 13%
Tampa, FL $150,700 110 $149,371 16%
Orlando, FL $147,800 170 $145,733 16%
Oklahoma City, OK $146,520 130 $162,065 11%
Deltona, FL $142,880 110 $143,790 15%
Cincinnati, OH $136,240 80 $142,854 13%
Boston, MA $135,720 100 $125,358 26%
Hartford, CT $134,700 70 $131,100 18%
St. Louis, MO $127,630 140 $134,223 13%
Providence, RI $126,300 50 $124,100 21%
Portland, ME $121,660 40 $119,441 23%
Virginia Beach, VA $119,230 90 $121,737 19%
Burlington, VT $109,140 30 $108,114 28%
Fairbanks, AK $103,230 80 $100,021 21%
Gulfport, MS $99,800 50 $110,881 17%
Riverside, CA $94,140 140 $88,443 32%
Jackson, MS $91,710 30 $102,989 19%

What the median air traffic controller salary pays per paycheck

PeriodBefore taxes
Year$148,080
Month$12,340
Every two weeks$5,695
Week$2,848
Hour$71.19

Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.

Becoming an air traffic controller: education and job outlook

Typical entry educationAssociate's degree
Work experience neededNone
On-the-job trainingLong-term on-the-job training
Projected change in jobs, 2025–35+1.7% (all jobs: +3.5%)
Openings a year (average)2,100
Self-employed%

official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Similar jobs

JobMedian a yearTypical education
Truck driver $58,640 Postsecondary certificate
Train conductor $78,000 High school diploma
Airline pilot $232,140 Bachelor's degree
Flight attendant $63,580 High school diploma
Forklift operator $46,420 No formal education
Warehouse worker $40,240 No formal education
Bus driver $59,050 High school diploma
School bus driver $47,920 High school diploma

Questions about air traffic controller pay

How much does an air traffic controller make an hour?

The median is $71.19 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37.70 and the top 10% over $103.66.

How much does an air traffic controller make a month?

About $12,340 a month before taxes at the median salary of $148,080, or $5,695 every two weeks.

What state pays air traffic controllers the most?

Virginia, with a median of $191,820. Illinois ($181,560), Georgia ($178,420), Colorado ($177,380) and Minnesota ($176,840) follow.

Where do air traffic controllers make the most after cost of living?

Virginia: its median of $191,820 is worth $189,725 at typical US prices. Georgia, Illinois and Minnesota come next.

How much do entry-level air traffic controllers make?

BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of air traffic controllers earn under $78,420 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $104,520, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.

What education do you need to become an air traffic controller?

BLS lists the typical entry-level education as an associate's degree. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: long-term on-the-job training.

Sources and limits

  • Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 53-2021 (Air Traffic Controllers). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
  • OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
  • Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
  • Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.

Methodology · Data sources · All salaries