Air Traffic Controller salary in Kentucky
Air Traffic Controllers in Kentucky earn a median of $127,800 a year ($61.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,650 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $148,080. Kentucky ranks 24th of 43 states for air traffic controllers pay. There are 0.11 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $121,910, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| 25th percentile | $97,840 | $47.04 |
| Median | $127,800 | $61.44 |
| 75th percentile | $151,240 | $72.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,650 | $81.08 |
| Average (mean) | $121,910 | $58.61 |
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 | $10,650 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,325 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,915.38 |
| Weekly | $2,457.69 |
| Hourly | $61.44 |
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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $350,950 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $129,990 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $123,290 | $59.27 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $33,580 | $16.14 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in Kentucky is $127,800 a year, or $61.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in Kentucky earn at least $168,650 a year. The top 25% earn $151,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,150 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $97,840 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Kentucky?
About 230 air traffic controllers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.