SOC 53-2021 · May 2025
Air Traffic Controller Salary
Air Traffic Controllers in the US earn a median of $148,080 a year ($70.43 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Air Traffic Controller pay climbed from $120,140 in 2019 to $146,490 in 2025, a +21.9% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$148,080
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 2025 release.
Wage trend
+21.9% since 2019 · +2.6% YoY
Hourly
$70.43
Job growth 2025-35
+1.7%
US workers
22,510
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 $78,420 – $215,610.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$78,420
25th
$104,520
Median
$148,080
75th
$190,570
90th
$215,610
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Air Traffic Controllers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $78,420 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $104,520 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $148,080 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $190,570 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $215,610 |
Geography
Air Traffic Controller pay by state
Air Traffic Controllers earn the most in Virginia ($191,820, +30% against the national median) and the least in D.C. ($47,760). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 43 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$148,080
Highest-paying states for air traffic controllers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $191,820 | +30% | 1,120 |
| Illinois | $181,560 | +23% | 990 |
| Georgia | $178,420 | +20% | 970 |
| Colorado | $177,380 | +20% | 740 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 | +19% | 680 |
| Texas | $170,080 | +15% | 2,060 |
| Washington | $162,570 | +10% | 620 |
| California | $160,080 | +8% | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $159,700 | +8% | 430 |
| Indiana | $158,810 | +7% | 630 |
All 43 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $191,820 | 1,120 |
| Illinois | $181,560 | 990 |
| Georgia | $178,420 | 970 |
| Colorado | $177,380 | 740 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 | 680 |
| Texas | $170,080 | 2,060 |
| Washington | $162,570 | 620 |
| California | $160,080 | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $159,700 | 430 |
| Indiana | $158,810 | 630 |
| Hawaii | $158,700 | 210 |
| Utah | $158,310 | 360 |
| Tennessee | $157,330 | 590 |
| New Mexico | $148,550 | 350 |
| Florida | $147,530 | 1,950 |
| New York | $144,960 | 1,150 |
| Connecticut | $140,940 | – |
| Nevada | $140,920 | 210 |
| Arizona | $136,800 | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $132,350 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $132,230 | 190 |
| Maryland | $131,290 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $129,230 | 410 |
| Kentucky | $127,800 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $126,300 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $125,060 | 120 |
| Alaska | $123,950 | 490 |
| Oklahoma | $123,220 | 270 |
| Missouri | $122,200 | 260 |
| Michigan | $118,930 | 360 |
| Alabama | $114,960 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $112,030 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $111,710 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $109,760 | 80 |
| Vermont | $109,140 | 30 |
| North Dakota | $107,990 | 100 |
| Maine | $107,270 | 70 |
| Montana | $101,380 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $99,810 | 230 |
| Wyoming | $93,580 | 40 |
| Iowa | $90,790 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $88,110 | 160 |
| D.C. | $47,760 | 820 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
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 $78,420 – $215,610. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Virginia, Illinois and Georgia. Pay in Virginia runs 4.0 times the level in D.C., before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as associate's degree, and projects about 2,100 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 1.7% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Air Traffic Controller salary in the US?
How much does a Air Traffic Controller make an hour?
How much do Air Traffic Controllers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Air Traffic Controllers the most?
Is the average Air Traffic Controller salary higher than the median?
Is Air Traffic Controller a growing career?
Open positions
Open Air Traffic Controller roles hiring now
Browse current Air Traffic Controller listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 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. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.