Air Traffic Controller Salary in the U.S.
Median annual pay in the U.S.
$148,080
$71.19/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,420 | $37.70 |
| 25th percentile | $104,520 | $50.25 |
| Median | $148,080 | $71.19 |
| 75th percentile | $190,570 | $91.62 |
| 90th percentile | $215,610 | $103.66 |
Employment
- Employment in the U.S.
- 22,510
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Comparison
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | ||
| 1st | $191,820 | $189,725 1st |
| Illinois | ||
| 2nd | $181,560 | $181,636 3rd |
| Georgia | ||
| 3rd | $178,420 | $185,289 2nd |
| Colorado | ||
| 4th | $177,380 | $172,127 7th |
| Minnesota | ||
| 5th | $176,840 | $179,313 4th |
| Texas | ||
| 6th | $170,080 | $175,237 6th |
| Washington | ||
| 7th | $162,570 | $151,916 12th |
| California | ||
| 8th | $160,080 | $144,581 13th |
| Kansas | ||
| 9th | $159,700 | $177,310 5th |
| Indiana | ||
| 10th | $158,810 | $170,161 9th |
| Hawaii | ||
| 11th | $158,700 | $144,337 14th |
| Utah | ||
| 12th | $158,310 | $160,129 11th |
| Tennessee | ||
| 13th | $157,330 | $171,253 8th |
| New Mexico | ||
| 14th | $148,550 | $161,096 10th |
| Florida | ||
| 15th | $147,530 | $142,660 15th |
| New York | ||
| 16th | $144,960 | $134,320 24th |
| Connecticut | ||
| 17th | $140,940 | $136,029 20th |
| Nevada | ||
| 18th | $140,920 | $140,950 17th |
| Arizona | ||
| 19th | $136,800 | $135,880 21st |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| 20th | $132,350 | $135,643 22nd |
| New Jersey | ||
| 21st | $132,230 | $121,529 31st |
| Maryland | ||
| 22nd | $131,290 | $125,087 27th |
| North Carolina | ||
| 23rd | $129,230 | $137,004 19th |
| Kentucky | ||
| 24th | $127,800 | $141,750 16th |
| Rhode Island | ||
| 25th | $126,300 | $123,485 30th |
| Massachusetts | ||
| 26th | $125,060 | $118,252 35th |
| Alaska | ||
| 27th | $123,950 | $121,093 33rd |
| Oklahoma | ||
| 28th | $123,220 | $140,273 18th |
| Missouri | ||
| 29th | $122,200 | $134,556 23rd |
| Michigan | ||
| 30th | $118,930 | $123,606 29th |
| Alabama | ||
| 31st | $114,960 | $129,426 25th |
| South Carolina | ||
| 32nd | $112,030 | $119,500 34th |
| Nebraska | ||
| 33rd | $111,710 | $123,980 28th |
| Arkansas | ||
| 34th | $109,760 | $126,252 26th |
| Vermont | ||
| 35th | $109,140 | $111,415 37th |
| North Dakota | ||
| 36th | $107,990 | $121,393 32nd |
| Maine | ||
| 37th | $107,270 | $110,531 38th |
| Montana | ||
| 38th | $101,380 | $107,116 39th |
| Louisiana | ||
| 39th | $99,810 | $113,154 36th |
| Wyoming | ||
| 40th | $93,580 | $100,959 42nd |
| Iowa | ||
| 41st | $90,790 | $103,450 40th |
| Mississippi | ||
| 42nd | $88,110 | $101,331 41st |
| District of Columbia | ||
| 43rd | $47,760 | $43,457 43rd |
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Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Airfield Operations Specialist salary in the U.S.
$56,850/year U.S.
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$232,140/year U.S.
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster salary in the U.S.
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$59,090/year U.S.
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Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +1.7%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Associate's degree
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Last updated