Air Traffic Controller Salary
Air Traffic Controllers earn a median $148,080 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
U.S. median
$148,080
$71.19 per hour
Range
$78,420 – $215,610
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
22,510
across the U.S.
Air Traffic Controller take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$112,479
per year · effective tax rate 24.0%
$9,373Monthly
$4,687Twice a month
$4,326Every 2 weeks
$54.08Hourly
- Federal income tax$24,273
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,181
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,147
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$112,479
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,420 | $37.70 | $63,998 |
| 25th percentile | $104,520 | $50.25 | $82,360 |
| Median (50th) | $148,080 | $71.19 | $112,479 |
| 75th percentile | $190,570 | $91.62 | $141,897 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,610 | $103.66 | $160,424 |
Best cities for air traffic controllers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $186,510 | $138,870 | $134,708 | 800 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $186,640 | $129,903 | $129,828 | 810 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $171,910 | $123,725 | $129,289 | 470 |
| 4 | Jacksonville, FL | $170,120 | $127,543 | $128,205 | 450 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $189,780 | $132,059 | $127,476 | 850 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $175,280 | $131,070 | $117,940 | 510 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $179,670 | $122,799 | $117,150 | 620 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $174,870 | $118,894 | $109,193 | 1,800 |
| 9 | Miami, FL | $162,140 | $122,089 | $106,950 | 720 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $173,020 | $115,415 | $101,628 | 690 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Chicago, IL — $189,780
- Atlanta, GA — $186,640
- Dallas, TX — $186,510
- Minneapolis, MN — $179,670
- 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
Air Traffic Controller salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $191,820 | $132,613 | $94,330 – $225,680 | 1,120 |
| Illinois | $181,560 | $126,520 | $83,990 – $225,680 | 990 |
| Georgia | $178,420 | $124,579 | $90,940 – $217,590 | 970 |
| Colorado | $177,380 | $125,409 | $76,310 – $213,950 | 740 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 | $121,087 | $88,940 – $218,190 | 680 |
| Texas | $170,080 | $127,516 | $90,420 – $222,230 | 2,060 |
| Washington | $162,570 | $122,383 | $91,600 – $209,270 | 620 |
| California | $160,080 | $107,942 | $80,960 – $225,680 | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $159,700 | $112,309 | $82,060 – $199,160 | 430 |
| Indiana | $158,810 | $115,157 | $81,000 – $200,640 | 630 |
| Hawaii | $158,700 | $109,122 | $92,580 – $205,000 | 210 |
| Utah | $158,310 | $113,313 | $75,360 – $186,180 | 360 |
| Tennessee | $157,330 | $118,801 | $98,300 – $198,790 | 590 |
| New Mexico | $148,550 | $106,852 | $77,400 – $187,790 | 350 |
| Florida | $147,530 | $112,103 | $86,660 – $195,960 | 1,950 |
| New York | $144,960 | $102,834 | $74,320 – $225,680 | 1,150 |
| Connecticut | $140,940 | $101,292 | $95,180 – $175,090 | — |
| Nevada | $140,920 | $107,585 | $80,600 – $200,160 | 210 |
| Arizona | $136,800 | $101,558 | $86,630 – $195,980 | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $132,350 | $97,664 | $81,490 – $225,680 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $132,230 | $95,412 | $88,460 – $209,730 | 190 |
| Maryland | $131,290 | $95,068 | $96,600 – $169,920 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $129,230 | $94,947 | $88,690 – $191,530 | 410 |
| Kentucky | $127,800 | $94,262 | $66,150 – $168,650 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $126,300 | $93,195 | $61,710 – $150,180 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $125,060 | $90,712 | $82,150 – $202,070 | 120 |
| Alaska | $123,950 | $95,986 | $66,800 – $191,690 | 490 |
| Oklahoma | $123,220 | $90,487 | $78,340 – $169,980 | 270 |
| Missouri | $122,200 | $89,984 | $90,940 – $166,610 | 260 |
| Michigan | $118,930 | $87,693 | $80,430 – $205,380 | 360 |
| Alabama | $114,960 | $84,221 | $79,420 – $159,640 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $112,030 | $82,078 | $71,680 – $142,830 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $111,710 | $83,215 | $83,030 – $147,990 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $109,760 | $81,978 | $76,360 – $134,430 | 80 |
| Vermont | $109,140 | $80,867 | $90,500 – $139,810 | 30 |
| North Dakota | $107,990 | $83,954 | $58,470 – $147,410 | 100 |
| Maine | $107,270 | $78,120 | $46,550 – $135,910 | 70 |
| Montana | $101,380 | $75,784 | $75,130 – $127,980 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $99,810 | $76,438 | $75,130 – $149,700 | 230 |
| Wyoming | $93,580 | $74,664 | $75,130 – $132,000 | 40 |
| Iowa | $90,790 | $69,903 | $54,930 – $121,720 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $88,110 | $68,023 | $64,380 – $127,170 | 160 |
| District of Columbia | $47,760 | $38,856 | $47,760 – $196,310 | 820 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a air traffic controller make?
The national median salary for air traffic controllers is $148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $78,420 and the top 10% earn over $215,610. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays air traffic controllers the most?
Virginia has the highest median pay at $191,820. After taxes and local prices, Dallas, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many air traffic controllers are there in the U.S.?
About 22,510 people work as air traffic controllers nationwide.