Air Traffic Controllers pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for air traffic controllers is $71.19 an hour ($148,080 a year). About 22,510 people work in this job there.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $37.70 | $78,420 |
| 25% of workers | $50.25 | $104,520 |
| Half of workers (median) | $71.19 | $148,080 |
| 75% of workers | $91.62 | $190,570 |
| 90% of workers | $103.66 | $215,610 |
Best-paying states for air traffic controllers
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Pay by state
- California · $160,080
- Colorado · $177,380
- District of Columbia · $47,760
- Florida · $147,530
- Georgia · $178,420
- Illinois · $181,560
- Indiana · $158,810
- Minnesota · $176,840
- New York · $144,960
- Tennessee · $157,330
- Texas · $170,080
- Virginia · $191,820
- Washington · $162,570
Education, experience and outlook for air traffic controllers
- Typical education to start: Associate's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Long-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +1.7% over ten years, little or no change · about 2,100 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $50,340 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicators | $53,040 |
| Commercial Pilots | $123,220 |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $78,000 |
| Locomotive Engineers | $81,410 |
| Transportation Inspectors | $92,100 |
| Airfield Operations Specialists | $56,850 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.