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SOC 53-2021 · May 2024

Air Traffic Controller Salary

Average Air Traffic Controller pay climbed from $120,140 in 2019 to $142,740 in 2024 — a +18.8% change in 5 years.

Median annual

$144,580

Half of all Air Traffic Controllers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024 release.

Wage trend

2019$120,1406 pts$142,7402024

+18.8% since 2019 · +4.3% YoY

Hourly

$68.62

Outlook

—

US workers

22,400

BLS series

Annual median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in All Industries in the United States

Salary range

From entry to top decile

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Air Traffic Controllers is $76,090 – $210,410.

Percentile distribution

USD · annual

10th

$76,090

25th

$101,150

Median

$144,580

75th

$186,510

90th

$210,410

By experience level

What each tenure band earns

By experience level

Estimated from BLS percentile distribution. Actual progression varies by employer and region.

Air Traffic Controller levelTenureEstimated salaryBLS reference
Entry levelFirst 0–2 years$76,09010th percentile
Early career2–5 years$101,15025th percentile
Mid-career5–10 years$144,580Median
Experienced10+ years$186,51075th percentile
Senior / leadershipTop 10%$210,41090th percentile

Geography

Air Traffic Controller pay by state

State-level OEWS data lands in Phase 2. The grid below shows national geography ready for that ingest — hover any state for context.

National median

$144,580

AK
ME
VT
NH
WA
MT
ND
MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
ID
WY
SD
IA
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
UT
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
AZ
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
DC
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL

Tile-grid layout · 50 states + D.C. · area-uniform, not geographic. State pay differentials populate after Phase 2 OEWS state ingest.

What affects this salary

Pay drivers for Air Traffic Controllers

Air traffic controllers (BLS SOC 53-2021) coordinate the movement of aircraft to maintain safe distances between them in the air, on the ground, and in the airspace they control. The role requires FAA Academy training (typically 2–3 months at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center) plus extensive on-the-job training before facility certification. Federal controllers at high-volume facilities (level 12 facilities, e.g. New York TRACON, Atlanta Center) substantially exceed the OEWS median.

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $76,090 – $210,410. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.

Geography matters. Metropolitan areas in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington tend to pay above the national median. Rural and lower-cost states often pay below — though cost-of-living adjustment narrows the real difference.

Credentials compound. Additional certifications, specializations, or advanced degrees consistently push earnings into the 75th and 90th percentile bands. Employer type (hospital vs. private practice, public vs. private sector) also drives meaningful pay variation.

Frequently asked

Questions readers ask

Frequently asked

What is the average Air Traffic Controller salary in the US?
The median annual Air Traffic Controller salary in the United States is $144,580, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 release. This midpoint figure means half of the 22,400 Air Traffic Controllers employed nationwide earn above $144,580 and half earn below. The mean annual wage is $142,740 — slightly above the median, reflecting upward pull from high-paying metropolitan and specialty positions. Entry-level earners (10th percentile) typically start around $76,090, while experienced professionals at the 75th percentile reach $186,510. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 53-2021.
How much does a Air Traffic Controller make per hour?
Air Traffic Controllers earn a mean hourly wage of $68.62, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 survey. This figure represents the average across all Air Traffic Controllers in all industries and geographic areas in the United States. Hourly rates vary considerably based on employer type, geographic location, shift differentials, and years of experience. Hourly equivalents for salaried roles are calculated against a standard 2,080-hour work year (40 hours per week × 52 weeks); actual compensated hours may differ. For reference, the annual mean salary for Air Traffic Controllers is $142,740. Part-time workers, per-diem positions, and contract roles may fall above or below this figure depending on the agreed pay structure and premium differentials. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 53-2021.
What does a Air Traffic Controller earn at the entry level?
Entry-level Air Traffic Controllers — those in the bottom 10% of the wage distribution — typically earn around $76,090 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 data. Workers in the 25th percentile (early-career, typically 1–4 years of experience) earn approximately $101,150 annually. These figures represent all industries and geographic regions nationwide; entry wages in high-cost states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts often run 10–25% above these benchmarks, while rural areas and lower-cost states may pay below them. As credentials, certifications, and clinical or technical experience accumulate, pay scales toward the median of $144,580 and beyond. Entry wage estimates are derived from BLS percentile bands and are labeled as estimates; they are not directly published as entry wages by the BLS. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 53-2021.
What is the highest salary a Air Traffic Controller can earn?
The top 10% of Air Traffic Controllers earn $210,410 or more annually, and the 75th percentile sits at $186,510, according to BLS OEWS May 2024. The highest-paid positions tend to cluster in major metropolitan areas — particularly in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington — and in settings that demand advanced credentials, specialized certifications, or leadership responsibilities. Employer type also drives meaningful pay variation: private-sector roles, large hospital systems, and government positions each carry different pay structures. For Air Traffic Controllers, moving from the median ($144,580) to the 90th percentile often involves a combination of advanced degrees or board certifications, supervisory responsibilities, and tenure at a high-volume or high-acuity facility. The mean salary of $142,740 sits below the 90th percentile, indicating most very-high earners are outliers. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 53-2021.
Is the mean Air Traffic Controller salary higher than the median?
Yes, the mean Air Traffic Controller salary ($142,740) is $1,840 below the median ($144,580). When the mean exceeds the median, it signals that a subset of high earners pulls the average upward — a common pattern in occupations with significant pay variation across specialties, employer types, or geographies. The median is generally the more useful benchmark for an individual worker: it represents what a typical Air Traffic Controller earns, unaffected by the very highest outlier salaries. Both figures come from the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey, SOC 53-2021.
How many Air Traffic Controllers work in the US?
Approximately 22,400 people work as Air Traffic Controllers in the United States, making it a specialized occupation in the US labor market. This employment count is based on the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release, SOC 53-2021. The OEWS program covers non-farm wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed. Total US employment across all occupations surveyed in the same release was approximately 158 million workers. The Air Traffic Controller field represents roughly 0.01% of total surveyed US employment.

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Source & methodology

Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 53-2021. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.

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