How much does an air traffic controller make in Detroit?
$178,300a year
Median yearly pay for air traffic controllers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area. That is $85.73 an hour or $14,860 a month.
- Hourly
- $85.73
- Vs. national median
- +20%
- Rank among cities
- 8 of 37
- Jobs in the area
- 180
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $100,200Median: $178,300Highest 10%: $214,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $100,200 | $48.18 | |
| 25th | $119,200 | $57.33 | |
| Median | $178,300 | $85.73 | |
| 75th | $196,800 | $94.62 | |
| 90th | $214,300 | $103.05 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for air traffic controllers.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Detroit
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $428,600 |
| Commercial Pilot | $133,200 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $69,560 |
| Flight Attendant | $62,490 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker | $61,670 |
| Tank Car | $60,440 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $59,740 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $59,120 |
| Transportation Inspector | $52,760 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $51,070 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour in Detroit?
The median hourly pay in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $85.73 ($178,300 a year).
Do air traffic controllers make more in Detroit than the national average?
Yes: $178,300 against $148,100 nationally, 20% more.
How does Detroit compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $118,900, so Detroit pays 50% more.
Where does Detroit rank for air traffic controller pay?
8 of 37 metro areas with data.
How much does an air traffic controller make starting out in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% make $100,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $214,300 or more.
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.