Air Traffic Controller salary in Missouri
Air Traffic Controllers in Missouri earn a median of $122,200 a year ($58.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,610 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $148,080. Missouri ranks 29th of 43 states for air traffic controllers pay. There are 0.09 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $125,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,940 | $43.72 |
| 25th percentile | $105,440 | $50.69 |
| Median | $122,200 | $58.75 |
| 75th percentile | $145,140 | $69.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,610 | $80.10 |
| Average (mean) | $125,950 | $60.55 |
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 | $10,183.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,091.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,700 |
| Weekly | $2,350 |
| Hourly | $58.75 |
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 Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $161,700 | 430 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $127,630 | 140 |
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 Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pilot | $102,990 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $40,360 | $19.41 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $97,680 | — |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,550 | $26.23 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Light Truck Driver | $45,500 | $21.88 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,190 | $21.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,370 | $29.02 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $46,880 | $22.54 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $40,200 | $19.33 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,670 | $18.11 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $37,050 | $17.81 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Missouri
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 Missouri?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in Missouri is $122,200 a year, or $58.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Missouri?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in Missouri earn at least $166,610 a year. The top 25% earn $145,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,940 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $105,440 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Missouri?
About 260 air traffic controllers are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.