Air Traffic Controller Salary in Dallas, TX
Air Traffic Controllers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $186,510 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $138,870 take-home, or $11,573 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median air traffic controller salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$33,496
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,704
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$138,870
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Air Traffic Controller pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,040 | $46.65 | $77,098 | $6,425 |
| 25th percentile | $144,310 | $69.38 | $109,902 | $9,158 |
| Median (50th) | $186,510 | $89.67 | $138,870 | $11,573 |
| 75th percentile | $203,670 | $97.92 | $151,630 | $12,636 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $223,700 | $107.55 | $165,916 | $13,826 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $186,510 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median air traffic controller's $138,870 take-home pay has the buying power of $134,708 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dallas, TX has 1.4× the national concentration of air traffic controller jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for air traffic controllers, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #1 of 10 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $186,510 | $138,870 | $134,708 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $186,640 | $129,903 | $129,828 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $171,910 | $123,725 | $129,289 |
| 4 | Jacksonville, FL | $170,120 | $127,543 | $128,205 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $189,780 | $132,059 | $127,476 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $175,280 | $131,070 | $117,940 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $179,670 | $122,799 | $117,150 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $174,870 | $118,894 | $109,193 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 10 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a air traffic controller make in Dallas, TX?
The median air traffic controller salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $186,510 a year, or about $89.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $144,310 and $203,670.
What is a air traffic controller’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $186,510 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $138,870 a year ($11,573 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a air traffic controller?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $148,080. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $134,708 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #1 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a air traffic controller afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 14% of a median air traffic controller’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dallas, TX
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $212,810
- Commercial Pilot — $160,160
- Transportation Inspector — $126,010
- Wellhead Pumper — $78,010
- Crane and Tower Operator — $68,640
- Flight Attendant — $61,100
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,260
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,530
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $56,120
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor — $53,220
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $47,960
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,230