How much does an air traffic controller make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $71.19 an hour or $12,340 a month.
- Hourly
- $71.19
- Average (mean)
- $146,500
- Jobs
- 22,510
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,420 | $37.70 | |
| 25th | $104,500 | $50.25 | |
| Median | $148,100 | $71.19 | |
| 75th | $190,600 | $91.62 | |
| 90th | $215,600 | $103.66 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Virginia | $191,800 |
| Illinois | $181,600 |
| Georgia | $178,400 |
| Colorado | $177,400 |
| Minnesota | $176,800 |
| Texas | $170,100 |
| Washington | $162,600 |
| California | $160,100 |
| Kansas | $159,700 |
| Indiana | $158,800 |
| Hawaii | $158,700 |
| Utah | $158,300 |
| Tennessee | $157,300 |
| New Mexico | $148,600 |
| Florida | $147,500 |
| New York | $145,000 |
| Connecticut | $140,900 |
| Nevada | $140,900 |
| Arizona | $136,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $132,400 |
| New Jersey | $132,200 |
| Maryland | $131,300 |
| North Carolina | $129,200 |
| Kentucky | $127,800 |
| Rhode Island | $126,300 |
| Massachusetts | $125,100 |
| Alaska | $124,000 |
| Oklahoma | $123,200 |
| Missouri | $122,200 |
| Michigan | $118,900 |
| Alabama | $115,000 |
| South Carolina | $112,000 |
| Nebraska | $111,700 |
| Arkansas | $109,800 |
| Vermont | $109,100 |
| North Dakota | $108,000 |
| Maine | $107,300 |
| Montana | $101,400 |
| Louisiana | $99,810 |
| Wyoming | $93,580 |
| Iowa | $90,790 |
| Mississippi | $88,110 |
| District of Columbia | $47,760 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Philadelphia, PA | $198,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $196,300 |
| San Francisco, CA | $193,400 |
| Chicago, IL | $189,800 |
| Atlanta, GA | $186,600 |
| Dallas, TX | $186,500 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $179,700 |
| Detroit, MI | $178,300 |
| Seattle, WA | $175,300 |
| Washington, DC | $174,900 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $173,000 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $171,900 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $170,100 |
| Miami, FL | $162,100 |
| Kansas City, MO | $161,700 |
In other countries
Air Traffic Controller belongs to the international group "Air traffic controllers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Airline Pilot$232,100
- Commercial Pilot$123,200
- Airfield Operations Specialist$56,850
- Flight Attendant$63,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $71.19 ($148,100 a year).
How much does an air traffic controller make a month?
About $12,340 a month before tax, based on a median of $148,100 a year.
How much does an air traffic controller make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $78,420 or less a year ($37.70 an hour); the top 10% make $215,600 or more.
Which state pays air traffic controllers the most?
Virginia, with a median of $191,800 a year, followed by Illinois ($181,600) and Georgia ($178,400).
Which city pays air traffic controllers the most?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with a median of $198,600 a year.
How many air traffic controllers are there in the United States?
About 22,510 people work as air traffic controllers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.