Air Traffic Controller salary in Indiana
Air Traffic Controllers in Indiana earn a median of $158,810 a year ($76.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 630 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $200,640 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $148,080. Indiana ranks 10th 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 $145,010, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| 25th percentile | $106,100 | $51.01 |
| Median | $158,810 | $76.35 |
| 75th percentile | $180,290 | $86.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $200,640 | $96.46 |
| Average (mean) | $145,010 | $69.72 |
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 | $13,234.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,617.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,108.08 |
| Weekly | $3,054.04 |
| Hourly | $76.35 |
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 Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $189,780 | 850 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $171,910 | 470 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $136,240 | 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 Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pilot | $104,160 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $171,260 | — |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,290 | $28.99 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,560 | $21.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $64,700 | $31.10 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $32,780 | $15.76 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Indiana
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 Indiana?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in Indiana is $158,810 a year, or $76.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $200,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Indiana?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in Indiana earn at least $200,640 a year. The top 25% earn $180,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,000 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $106,100 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Indiana?
About 630 air traffic controllers are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.