Air Traffic Controller Salary in Seattle, WA
Air Traffic Controllers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $175,280 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $131,070 take-home, or $10,922 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$30,801
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,867
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,542
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$131,070
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Air Traffic Controller pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,640 | $46.46 | $76,816 | $6,401 |
| 25th percentile | $125,340 | $60.26 | $96,936 | $8,078 |
| Median (50th) | $175,280 | $84.27 | $131,070 | $10,922 |
| 75th percentile | $200,780 | $96.53 | $149,501 | $12,458 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,840 | $103.77 | $160,593 | $13,383 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $175,280 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median air traffic controller's $131,070 take-home pay has the buying power of $117,940 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 1.7× 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
Seattle, WA ranks #6 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 Seattle, WA?
The median air traffic controller salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $175,280 a year, or about $84.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $125,340 and $200,780.
What is a air traffic controller’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $175,280 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $131,070 a year ($10,922 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a air traffic controller?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $148,080. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $117,940 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #6 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a air traffic controller afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median air traffic controller’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $229,900
- Commercial Pilot — $126,990
- Crane and Tower Operator — $114,330
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — $109,080
- Ship Engineer — $108,900
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $83,430
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $76,390
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $75,090
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $71,240
- Sailor and Marine Oiler — $68,740
- Bus Drivers, School — $66,380
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $55,600