Air Traffic Controller salary in New Mexico
Air Traffic Controllers in New Mexico earn a median of $148,550 a year ($71.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $187,790 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $148,080. New Mexico ranks 14th of 43 states for air traffic controllers pay. There are 0.40 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $140,280, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in New Mexico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,400 | $37.21 |
| 25th percentile | $120,120 | $57.75 |
| Median | $148,550 | $71.42 |
| 75th percentile | $170,660 | $82.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $187,790 | $90.29 |
| Average (mean) | $140,280 | $67.44 |
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 | $12,379.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,189.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,713.46 |
| Weekly | $2,856.73 |
| Hourly | $71.42 |
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 |
Related jobs in New Mexico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pilot | $97,920 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $69,090 | $33.22 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $136,990 | — |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,830 | $17.22 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,360 | $20.37 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $55,790 | $26.82 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $30,310 | $14.57 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $34,970 | $16.81 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $47,660 | $22.92 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in New Mexico
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 New Mexico?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in New Mexico is $148,550 a year, or $71.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $187,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in New Mexico?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in New Mexico earn at least $187,790 a year. The top 25% earn $170,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in New Mexico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,400 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $120,120 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in New Mexico?
About 350 air traffic controllers are employed in New Mexico, not counting the self-employed.