Air Traffic Controller Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Air Traffic Controllers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $173,020 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $115,415 take-home, or $9,618 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median air traffic controller salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$30,259
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,727
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,509
- California income tax$11,861
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,249
- Take-home pay$115,415
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Air Traffic Controller pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,520 | $30.54 | $50,523 | $4,210 |
| 25th percentile | $116,330 | $55.93 | $82,567 | $6,881 |
| Median (50th) | $173,020 | $83.18 | $115,415 | $9,618 |
| 75th percentile | $209,640 | $100.79 | $138,035 | $11,503 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,680 | $108.50 | $147,523 | $12,294 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $173,020 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median air traffic controller's $115,415 take-home pay has the buying power of $101,628 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Air Traffic Controller jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for air traffic controllers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $173,020 | $115,415 | $101,628 |
*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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median air traffic controller salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $173,020 a year, or about $83.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $116,330 and $209,640.
What is a air traffic controller’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $173,020 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $115,415 a year ($9,618 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $14,111 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a air traffic controller?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $148,080. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $101,628 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #10 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a air traffic controller afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median air traffic controller’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — $113,260
- Transportation Inspector — $101,040
- Crane and Tower Operator — $81,490
- Flight Attendant — $79,390
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $68,020
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $62,490
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,190
- Bus Drivers, School — $61,580
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor — $60,530
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,340
- Airfield Operations Specialist — $57,330