Air Traffic Controller Salary: How Much Do Air Traffic Controllers Make?
Median pay, percentiles and employment for air traffic controllers — nationally, in all 50 states, and by metro.
Short answer: the median air traffic controller salary in the United States is $148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour). The middle of the market runs $104,520 to $190,570, and the 10th to 90th percentile spans $78,420 to $215,610. Location matters more than most people expect: the median is $191,820 in Virginia and $47,760 in District of Columbia — a $144,060 gap for the same job. About 22,510 people work as air traffic controllers nationally.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Public-domain federal data, surveyed from employers.
Air Traffic Controller salary by state
Annual wages for Air Traffic Controllers (BLS occupation code 53-2021). Percentiles show the spread within each state.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $79,420 | $114,960 | $159,640 | 240 |
| Alaska | $66,800 | $123,950 | $191,690 | 490 |
| Arizona | $86,630 | $136,800 | $195,980 | 380 |
| Arkansas | $76,360 | $109,760 | $134,430 | 80 |
| California | $80,960 | $160,080 | $225,680 | 2,290 |
| Colorado | $76,310 | $177,380 | $213,950 | 740 |
| Connecticut | $95,180 | $140,940 | $175,090 | — |
| District of Columbia | $47,760 | $47,760 | $196,310 | 820 |
| Florida | $86,660 | $147,530 | $195,960 | 1,950 |
| Georgia | $90,940 | $178,420 | $217,590 | 970 |
| Hawaii | $92,580 | $158,700 | $205,000 | 210 |
| Illinois | $83,990 | $181,560 | $225,680 | 990 |
| Indiana | $81,000 | $158,810 | $200,640 | 630 |
| Iowa | $54,930 | $90,790 | $121,720 | 120 |
| Kansas | $82,060 | $159,700 | $199,160 | 430 |
| Kentucky | $66,150 | $127,800 | $168,650 | 230 |
| Louisiana | $75,130 | $99,810 | $149,700 | 230 |
| Maine | $46,550 | $107,270 | $135,910 | 70 |
| Maryland | $96,600 | $131,290 | $169,920 | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $82,150 | $125,060 | $202,070 | 120 |
| Michigan | $80,430 | $118,930 | $205,380 | 360 |
| Minnesota | $88,940 | $176,840 | $218,190 | 680 |
| Mississippi | $64,380 | $88,110 | $127,170 | 160 |
| Missouri | $90,940 | $122,200 | $166,610 | 260 |
| Montana | $75,130 | $101,380 | $127,980 | 60 |
| Nebraska | $83,030 | $111,710 | $147,990 | 70 |
| Nevada | $80,600 | $140,920 | $200,160 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $88,460 | $132,230 | $209,730 | 190 |
| New Mexico | $77,400 | $148,550 | $187,790 | 350 |
| New York | $74,320 | $144,960 | $225,680 | 1,150 |
| North Carolina | $88,690 | $129,230 | $191,530 | 410 |
| North Dakota | $58,470 | $107,990 | $147,410 | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $78,340 | $123,220 | $169,980 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,490 | $132,350 | $225,680 | 460 |
| Rhode Island | $61,710 | $126,300 | $150,180 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $71,680 | $112,030 | $142,830 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $98,300 | $157,330 | $198,790 | 590 |
| Texas | $90,420 | $170,080 | $222,230 | 2,060 |
| Utah | $75,360 | $158,310 | $186,180 | 360 |
| Vermont | $90,500 | $109,140 | $139,810 | 30 |
| Virginia | $94,330 | $191,820 | $225,680 | 1,120 |
| Washington | $91,600 | $162,570 | $209,270 | 620 |
| Wyoming | $75,130 | $93,580 | $132,000 | 40 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. “Not released” means BLS suppressed the estimate, usually because the state sample was too small — this page shows that rather than guessing.
Highest-paying metro areas for air traffic controllers
| Metro area | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $198,590 | $225,680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $196,290 | $225,680 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $193,360 | $225,680 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $189,780 | $225,680 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $186,640 | $217,590 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $186,510 | $223,700 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $179,670 | $222,000 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $178,310 | $214,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $175,280 | $215,840 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $174,870 | $225,680 |
Top 10 of the 393 metro areas BLS publishes. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average air traffic controller salary?
The median air traffic controller salary in the United States is $148,080 a year as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of air traffic controllers earn more than that and half earn less. The 10th percentile is $78,420 and the 90th percentile is $215,610.
Which state pays air traffic controllers the most?
Virginia, with a median of $191,820. The lowest of the states BLS publishes is District of Columbia at $47,760, a gap of $144,060. Higher-paying states also tend to have higher housing costs, so compare take-home pay and rent rather than the headline figure alone.
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $71.19 as of May 2025.
Is this data self-reported?
No. These figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, which collects wage data from employers rather than from workers submitting their own salaries. It is public-domain federal data.