Air Traffic Controller salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Air Traffic Controllers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $175,280 a year ($84.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 510 workers.
Pay ranges from $96,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,840 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $148,080. Pay here is 8% higher than the Washington statewide median of $162,570. There are 0.24 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $163,230, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,640 | $46.46 |
| 25th percentile | $125,340 | $60.26 |
| Median | $175,280 | $84.27 |
| 75th percentile | $200,780 | $96.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,840 | $103.77 |
| Average (mean) | $163,230 | $78.48 |
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 | $14,606.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,303.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,741.54 |
| Weekly | $3,370.77 |
| Hourly | $84.27 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $229,900 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $126,990 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $84,050 | $40.41 |
| Flight Attendant | $75,100 | — |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $46,830 | $22.52 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $55,600 | $26.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $76,390 | $36.73 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $83,430 | $40.11 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $66,380 | $31.91 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $175,280 a year, or $84.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $96,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $215,840 a year. The top 25% earn $200,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $96,640 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $125,340 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 510 air traffic controllers are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.