Air Traffic Controller salary in North Carolina
Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina earn a median of $129,230 a year ($62.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 410 workers.
Pay ranges from $88,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,530 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $148,080. North Carolina ranks 23rd of 43 states for air traffic controllers pay. There are 0.08 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $136,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $88,690 | $42.64 |
| 25th percentile | $104,640 | $50.31 |
| Median | $129,230 | $62.13 |
| 75th percentile | $169,520 | $81.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $191,530 | $92.08 |
| Average (mean) | $136,490 | $65.62 |
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 | $10,769.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,384.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,970.38 |
| Weekly | $2,485.19 |
| Hourly | $62.13 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $119,230 | 90 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $151,540 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $127,310 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $44,670 | $21.48 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in North Carolina is $129,230 a year, or $62.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $88,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in North Carolina earn at least $191,530 a year. The top 25% earn $169,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $88,690 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $104,640 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in North Carolina?
About 410 air traffic controllers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.