Air Traffic Controller salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Air Traffic Controllers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $189,780 a year ($91.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $89,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,680 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $148,080. Pay here is 5% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $181,560. There are 0.19 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $174,320, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,690 | $43.12 |
| 25th percentile | $145,310 | $69.86 |
| Median | $189,780 | $91.24 |
| 75th percentile | $209,440 | $100.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,680 | $108.50 |
| Average (mean) | $174,320 | $83.81 |
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 | $15,815 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,907.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,299.23 |
| Weekly | $3,649.62 |
| Hourly | $91.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Air Traffic Controller salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $171,910 | 470 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $136,240 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $127,630 | 140 |
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 |
See Air Traffic Controller pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $62,120 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $293,490 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $157,420 | — |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,450 | $18.48 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $68,330 | $32.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,180 | $17.40 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $40,490 | $19.46 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $65,200 | $31.35 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $189,780 a year, or $91.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $89,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $225,680 a year. The top 25% earn $209,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $89,690 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $145,310 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 850 air traffic controllers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.