Air Traffic Controller Salary in Illinois
Median annual pay in Illinois
$181,560
$87.29/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in Illinois
$181,636
Regional Price Parity: 99.958 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($148,080): +$33,480 (+22.6%)
Illinois ranks 2nd of 43 states by median pay, and 3rd of 43 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $83,990 | $40.38 |
| 25th percentile | $117,500 | $56.49 |
| Median | $181,560 | $87.29 |
| 75th percentile | $209,440 | $100.69 |
| 90th percentile | $225,680 | $108.50 |
Employment
- Employment in Illinois
- 990
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in Illinois
- $181,560
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $148,080
- Difference
- +$33,480 (+22.6%)
Cost of living
$181,560 ÷ 99.958 × 100 = $181,636
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | ||
| 1st | $191,820 | $189,725 1st |
| Illinois This page | ||
| 2nd | $181,560 | $181,636 3rd |
| Georgia | ||
| 3rd | $178,420 | $185,289 2nd |
| Colorado | ||
| 4th | $177,380 | $172,127 7th |
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.
- Commercial Pilot salary in the U.S.
$123,220/year U.S.
- Airline Pilot, Copilot, and Flight Engineer salary in the U.S.
$232,140/year U.S.
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster salary in the U.S.
$78,000/year U.S.
- Traffic Technician salary in the U.S.
$59,090/year U.S.
- Locomotive Engineer salary in the U.S.
$81,410/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +1.7%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Associate's degree
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Air Traffic Controller salary in nearby places
- Air Traffic Controller salary in Indiana
$158,810/year Indiana
- Air Traffic Controller salary in Iowa
$90,790/year Iowa
- Air Traffic Controller salary in Kentucky
$127,800/year Kentucky
- Air Traffic Controller salary in Michigan
$118,930/year Michigan
- Air Traffic Controller salary in Missouri
$122,200/year Missouri
- Air Traffic Controller salary in the U.S.
$148,080/year U.S.
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.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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