Air Traffic Controller salary in the U.S.
Air Traffic Controllers in the U.S. earn a median of $148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 22,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,610 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $146,490, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,420 | $37.70 |
| 25th percentile | $104,520 | $50.25 |
| Median | $148,080 | $71.19 |
| 75th percentile | $190,570 | $91.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,610 | $103.66 |
| Average (mean) | $146,490 | $70.43 |
Half of air traffic controllers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $12,340 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,170 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,695.38 |
| Weekly | $2,847.69 |
| Hourly | $71.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Air Traffic Controller salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $191,820 | 1,120 |
| Illinois | $181,560 | 990 |
| Georgia | $178,420 | 970 |
| Colorado | $177,380 | 740 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 | 680 |
| Texas | $170,080 | 2,060 |
| Washington | $162,570 | 620 |
| California | $160,080 | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $159,700 | 430 |
| Indiana | $158,810 | 630 |
| Hawaii | $158,700 | 210 |
| Utah | $158,310 | 360 |
| Tennessee | $157,330 | 590 |
| New Mexico | $148,550 | 350 |
| Florida | $147,530 | 1,950 |
| New York | $144,960 | 1,150 |
| Connecticut | $140,940 | n/a |
| Nevada | $140,920 | 210 |
| Arizona | $136,800 | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $132,350 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $132,230 | 190 |
| Maryland | $131,290 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $129,230 | 410 |
| Kentucky | $127,800 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $126,300 | 50 |
| Puerto Rico | $125,780 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $125,060 | 120 |
| Alaska | $123,950 | 490 |
| Oklahoma | $123,220 | 270 |
| Missouri | $122,200 | 260 |
| Michigan | $118,930 | 360 |
| Alabama | $114,960 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $112,030 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $111,710 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $109,760 | 80 |
| Vermont | $109,140 | 30 |
| North Dakota | $107,990 | 100 |
| Maine | $107,270 | 70 |
| Montana | $101,380 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $99,810 | 230 |
| Wyoming | $93,580 | 40 |
| Iowa | $90,790 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $88,110 | 160 |
| Guam | $82,830 | 40 |
| District of Columbia | $47,760 | 820 |
Best-paying metro areas for air traffic controllers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $198,590 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $196,290 | 240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $193,360 | 430 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $189,780 | 850 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $186,640 | 810 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $186,510 | 800 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $179,670 | 620 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $178,310 | 180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $175,280 | 510 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $174,870 | 1,800 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $173,020 | 690 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $171,910 | 470 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $170,120 | 450 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $162,140 | 720 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $161,700 | 430 |
Metro areas with the most air traffic controllers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,800 | $174,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 850 | $189,780 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 810 | $186,640 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 800 | $186,510 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 720 | $162,140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 690 | $173,020 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 620 | $179,670 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 510 | $175,280 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 470 | $171,910 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 450 | $170,120 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 430 | $161,700 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 430 | $193,360 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 330 | $161,640 |
| Anchorage, AK | 280 | $160,970 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 240 | $196,290 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 | $18.64 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 | $17.23 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a air traffic controller make in the U.S.?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in the U.S. is $148,080 a year, or $71.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in the U.S. earn at least $215,610 a year. The top 25% earn $190,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,420 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $104,520 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in the U.S.?
About 22,510 air traffic controllers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.