Air Traffic Controller salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Air Traffic Controllers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $179,670 a year ($86.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $99,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $222,000 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $148,080. Pay here is 2% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $176,840. There are 0.32 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $169,370, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,230 | $47.71 |
| 25th percentile | $139,530 | $67.08 |
| Median | $179,670 | $86.38 |
| 75th percentile | $202,990 | $97.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $222,000 | $106.73 |
| Average (mean) | $169,370 | $81.43 |
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 | $14,972.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,486.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,910.38 |
| Weekly | $3,455.19 |
| Hourly | $86.38 |
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 |
See Air Traffic Controller pay in every state or the Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $61,230 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $211,470 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $126,550 | — |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,200 | $30.87 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $50,240 | $24.16 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $32,980 | $15.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $72,140 | $34.68 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $39,890 | $19.18 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $38,130 | $18.33 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $179,670 a year, or $86.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $99,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $222,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $222,000 a year. The top 25% earn $202,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $99,230 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $139,530 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 620 air traffic controllers are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.