Air Traffic Controller salary in Florida
Air Traffic Controllers in Florida earn a median of $147,530 a year ($70.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $86,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,960 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $148,080. Florida ranks 15th of 43 states for air traffic controllers pay. There are 0.20 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $144,140, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,660 | $41.66 |
| 25th percentile | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Median | $147,530 | $70.93 |
| 75th percentile | $178,420 | $85.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,960 | $94.21 |
| Average (mean) | $144,140 | $69.30 |
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 | $12,294.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,147.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,674.23 |
| Weekly | $2,837.12 |
| Hourly | $70.93 |
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 Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | $170,120 | 450 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $162,140 | 720 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $150,700 | 110 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $147,800 | 170 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $142,880 | 110 |
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 Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $47,320 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $225,020 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $121,890 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $57,650 | $27.72 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,640 | $24.34 |
| Light Truck Driver | $41,810 | $20.10 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,000 | $29.33 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Parking Attendant | $29,650 | $14.26 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Florida
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 Florida?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in Florida is $147,530 a year, or $70.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $86,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Florida?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in Florida earn at least $195,960 a year. The top 25% earn $178,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $86,660 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $107,990 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Florida?
About 1,950 air traffic controllers are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.