Air Traffic Controller salary in Colorado
Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado earn a median of $177,380 a year ($85.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,950 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $148,080. Colorado ranks 4th of 43 states for air traffic controllers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.26 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $158,790, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,310 | $36.69 |
| 25th percentile | $108,990 | $52.40 |
| Median | $177,380 | $85.28 |
| 75th percentile | $204,150 | $98.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,950 | $102.86 |
| Average (mean) | $158,790 | $76.34 |
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 | $14,781.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,390.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,822.31 |
| Weekly | $3,411.15 |
| Hourly | $85.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $59,500 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $307,490 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $139,680 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $77,500 | $37.26 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,350 | $20.36 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,500 | $29.57 |
| Light Truck Driver | $48,410 | $23.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,380 | $31.43 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $50,570 | $24.31 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $41,020 | $19.72 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $40,730 | $19.58 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in Colorado is $177,380 a year, or $85.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Colorado?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in Colorado earn at least $213,950 a year. The top 25% earn $204,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,310 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $108,990 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Colorado?
About 740 air traffic controllers are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.