Air Traffic Controller salary in Alaska
Air Traffic Controllers in Alaska earn a median of $123,950 a year ($59.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 490 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,690 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $148,080. Alaska ranks 27th of 43 states for air traffic controllers pay. There are 1.5 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 10.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $130,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Alaska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,800 | $32.11 |
| 25th percentile | $94,760 | $45.56 |
| Median | $123,950 | $59.59 |
| 75th percentile | $168,830 | $81.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $191,690 | $92.16 |
| Average (mean) | $130,420 | $62.70 |
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 | $10,329.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,164.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,767.31 |
| Weekly | $2,383.65 |
| Hourly | $59.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Air Traffic Controller salary in cities in Alaska
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $160,970 | 280 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $103,230 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for air traffic controllers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $191,820 |
| Illinois | $181,560 |
| Georgia | $178,420 |
| Colorado | $177,380 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 |
| Texas | $170,080 |
| Washington | $162,570 |
| California | $160,080 |
| Kansas | $159,700 |
| Indiana | $158,810 |
Related jobs in Alaska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $100,120 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $71,510 | $34.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $40,310 | $19.38 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,510 | $21.40 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $70,100 | $33.70 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Light Truck Driver | $57,190 | $27.50 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $39,800 | $19.14 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $54,200 | $26.06 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $88,230 | $42.42 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $40,210 | $19.33 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $41,670 | $20.04 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Alaska
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 Alaska?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in Alaska is $123,950 a year, or $59.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Alaska?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in Alaska earn at least $191,690 a year. The top 25% earn $168,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Alaska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,800 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $94,760 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Alaska?
About 490 air traffic controllers are employed in Alaska, not counting the self-employed.