Air Traffic Controller Salary in Minneapolis, MN
Air Traffic Controllers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median $179,670 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $122,799 take-home, or $10,233 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median air traffic controller salary in Minneapolis, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$31,855
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,140
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,605
- Minnesota income tax$11,271
- Take-home pay$122,799
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 7.85% state
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Air Traffic Controller pay by experience in Minneapolis, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,230 | $47.71 | $73,414 | $6,118 |
| 25th percentile | $139,530 | $67.08 | $98,515 | $8,210 |
| Median (50th) | $179,670 | $86.38 | $122,799 | $10,233 |
| 75th percentile | $202,990 | $97.59 | $138,027 | $11,502 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $222,000 | $106.73 | $150,135 | $12,511 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $179,670 buys in Minneapolis, MN
Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 4.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median air traffic controller's $122,799 take-home pay has the buying power of $117,150 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Minneapolis, MN has 2.2× 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
Minneapolis, MN ranks #7 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 Minneapolis, MN?
The median air traffic controller salary in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $179,670 a year, or about $86.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $139,530 and $202,990.
What is a air traffic controller’s take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN?
On the median $179,670 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $122,799 a year ($10,233 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $11,271 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Minneapolis, MN a good place to work as a air traffic controller?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $148,080. Local prices are 4.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $117,150 would in a typical U.S. city. Minneapolis, MN ranks #7 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a air traffic controller afford rent in Minneapolis, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Minneapolis, MN is $1,396 a month ($1,700 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 Minneapolis, MN
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $211,470
- Commercial Pilot — $126,550
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $72,140
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $64,410
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $64,200
- Flight Attendant — $61,230
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $57,050
- Bus Drivers, School — $50,240
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,740
- Light Truck Driver — $49,670
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $47,320
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $42,280