Air Traffic Controllers salary
The median pay for air traffic controllers in the United States is $148,080 a year. About 22,510 people hold this job.
- 10th percentile
- $78,420
- 25th percentile
- $104,520
- Median percentile
- $148,080
- 75th percentile
- $190,570
- 90th percentile
- $215,610
Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience. BLS does not report experience, so reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only a rough guide. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.
How to become: education, skills and job outlook
Highest-paying states · Highest-paying cities
By state
- 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
- Hawaii $158,700
- Utah $158,310
- Tennessee $157,330
- New Mexico $148,550
- Florida $147,530
- New York $144,960
- Nevada $140,920
- Arizona $136,800
- Pennsylvania $132,350
- New Jersey $132,230
- Maryland $131,290
- North Carolina $129,230
- Kentucky $127,800
- Rhode Island $126,300
- Massachusetts $125,060
- Alaska $123,950
- Oklahoma $123,220
- Missouri $122,200
- Michigan $118,930
- Alabama $114,960
- South Carolina $112,030
- Nebraska $111,710
- Arkansas $109,760
- Vermont $109,140
- North Dakota $107,990
- Maine $107,270
- Montana $101,380
- Louisiana $99,810
- Wyoming $93,580
- Iowa $90,790
- Mississippi $88,110
- District of Columbia $47,760
By metro area
- Philadelphia, PA $198,590
- Sacramento, CA $196,290
- San Francisco, CA $193,360
- Chicago, IL $189,780
- Atlanta, GA $186,640
- Dallas, TX $186,510
- Minneapolis, MN $179,670
- Detroit, MI $178,310
- Seattle, WA $175,280
- Washington, DC $174,870
- Los Angeles, CA $173,020
- Indianapolis, IN $171,910
- Jacksonville, FL $170,120
- Miami, FL $162,140
- Kansas City, MO $161,700
- Salt Lake City, UT $161,640
- Phoenix, AZ $161,220
- Anchorage, AK $160,970
- Nashville, TN $155,540
- Las Vegas, NV $155,500
- Tampa, FL $150,700
- Orlando, FL $147,800
- Oklahoma City, OK $146,520
- Deltona, FL $142,880
- Cincinnati, OH $136,240
- Boston, MA $135,720
- Hartford, CT $134,700
- St. Louis, MO $127,630
- Providence, RI $126,300
- Portland, ME $121,660
- Virginia Beach, VA $119,230
- Burlington, VT $109,140
- Fairbanks, AK $103,230
- Gulfport, MS $99,800
- Riverside, CA $94,140
- Jackson, MS $91,710