Highest-paying states for air traffic controllers

Virginia leads at $191,820 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.

Place	Median	25th–75th
Virginia	$191,820	$140,480–$214,360
Illinois	$181,560	$117,500–$209,440
Georgia	$178,420	$126,570–$198,120
Colorado	$177,380	$108,990–$204,150
Minnesota	$176,840	$120,940–$200,510
Texas	$170,080	$107,990–$202,590
Washington	$162,570	$112,150–$191,030
California	$160,080	$115,810–$207,670
Kansas	$159,700	$119,370–$181,330
Indiana	$158,810	$106,100–$180,290
Hawaii	$158,700	$115,290–$186,280
Utah	$158,310	$140,130–$169,520
Tennessee	$157,330	$120,000–$178,630
New Mexico	$148,550	$120,120–$170,660
Florida	$147,530	$107,990–$178,420
New York	$144,960	$106,200–$216,570
Nevada	$140,920	$112,110–$182,250
Arizona	$136,800	$112,030–$170,870
Pennsylvania	$132,350	$100,210–$190,360
New Jersey	$132,230	$102,730–$179,400
Maryland	$131,290	$118,350–$164,920
North Carolina	$129,230	$104,640–$169,520
Kentucky	$127,800	$97,840–$151,240
Rhode Island	$126,300	$100,440–$150,180
Massachusetts	$125,060	$89,890–$171,010
Alaska	$123,950	$94,760–$168,830
Oklahoma	$123,220	$98,680–$150,260
Missouri	$122,200	$105,440–$145,140
Michigan	$118,930	$99,610–$178,590
Alabama	$114,960	$100,310–$138,050
South Carolina	$112,030	$92,980–$132,600
Nebraska	$111,710	$94,910–$127,630
Arkansas	$109,760	$99,800–$127,920
Vermont	$109,140	$101,840–$114,480
North Dakota	$107,990	$81,720–$133,660
Maine	$107,270	$54,500–$122,350
Montana	$101,380	$83,030–$108,680
Louisiana	$99,810	$87,150–$123,660
Wyoming	$93,580	$82,310–$114,940
Iowa	$90,790	$76,980–$105,610
Mississippi	$88,110	$79,700–$113,300
District of Columbia	$47,760	$47,760–$174,860

Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.