Air Traffic Controller salary in Georgia
Air Traffic Controllers in Georgia earn a median of $178,420 a year ($85.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 970 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $217,590 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $148,080. Georgia ranks 3rd of 43 states for air traffic controllers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. 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 $164,700, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Georgia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,940 | $43.72 |
| 25th percentile | $126,570 | $60.85 |
| Median | $178,420 | $85.78 |
| 75th percentile | $198,120 | $95.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $217,590 | $104.61 |
| Average (mean) | $164,700 | $79.18 |
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 | $14,868.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,434.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,862.31 |
| Weekly | $3,431.15 |
| Hourly | $85.78 |
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 Georgia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $186,640 | 810 |
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 Georgia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $618,090 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $145,100 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $66,790 | $32.11 |
| Flight Attendant | $78,320 | — |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,620 | $17.13 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,050 | $27.43 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,210 | $20.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $63,540 | $30.55 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $40,040 | $19.25 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $33,260 | $15.99 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $30,610 | $14.72 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Georgia
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 Georgia?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in Georgia is $178,420 a year, or $85.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $217,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Georgia?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in Georgia earn at least $217,590 a year. The top 25% earn $198,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Georgia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,940 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $126,570 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Georgia?
About 970 air traffic controllers are employed in Georgia, not counting the self-employed.