Air Traffic Controller salary in Pennsylvania
Air Traffic Controllers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $132,350 a year ($63.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 460 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,680 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $148,080. Pennsylvania ranks 20th 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 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $143,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,490 | $39.18 |
| 25th percentile | $100,210 | $48.18 |
| Median | $132,350 | $63.63 |
| 75th percentile | $190,360 | $91.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,680 | $108.50 |
| Average (mean) | $143,180 | $68.84 |
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 | $11,029.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,514.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,090.38 |
| Weekly | $2,545.19 |
| Hourly | $63.63 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $198,590 | 220 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $39,520 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $164,990 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $134,030 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $55,660 | $26.76 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,480 | $20.43 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,460 | $29.55 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $34,230 | $16.46 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in Pennsylvania is $132,350 a year, or $63.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in Pennsylvania earn at least $225,680 a year. The top 25% earn $190,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,490 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $100,210 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Pennsylvania?
About 460 air traffic controllers are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.