Air Traffic Controller Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Air Traffic Controllers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $171,910 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $123,725 take-home, or $10,310 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median air traffic controller salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$29,992
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,658
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,493
- Indiana income tax$5,042
- Take-home pay$123,725
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 2.95% state
Air Traffic Controller pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,780 | $50.38 | $79,481 | $6,623 |
| 25th percentile | $156,290 | $75.14 | $113,509 | $9,459 |
| Median (50th) | $171,910 | $82.65 | $123,725 | $10,310 |
| 75th percentile | $189,090 | $90.91 | $135,245 | $11,270 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $204,210 | $98.18 | $146,033 | $12,169 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $171,910 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median air traffic controller's $123,725 take-home pay has the buying power of $129,289 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Indianapolis, IN has 2.9× 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
Indianapolis, IN ranks #3 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 Indianapolis, IN?
The median air traffic controller salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $171,910 a year, or about $82.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $156,290 and $189,090.
What is a air traffic controller’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $171,910 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $123,725 a year ($10,310 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,042 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a air traffic controller?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $148,080. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $129,289 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #3 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a air traffic controller afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 12% of a median air traffic controller’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $65,590
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,980
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $61,470
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $59,710
- Bus Drivers, School — $49,890
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,670
- Light Truck Driver — $45,180
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,180
- Driver/Sales Worker — $40,590
- Machine Feeder and Offbearer — $37,820
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,120
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,040