How much does an air traffic controller make in Los Angeles?
$173,000a year
Median yearly pay for air traffic controllers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $83.18 an hour or $14,420 a month.
- Hourly
- $83.18
- Vs. national median
- +17%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 37
- Jobs in the area
- 690
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $63,520Median: $173,000Highest 10%: $225,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,520 | $30.54 | |
| 25th | $116,300 | $55.93 | |
| Median | $173,000 | $83.18 | |
| 75th | $209,600 | $100.79 | |
| 90th | $225,700 | $108.50 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for air traffic controllers.
| Sacramento, CA | $196,300 |
| San Francisco, CA | $193,400 |
| Riverside, CA | $94,140 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $364,700 |
| Captain | $113,300 |
| Transportation Inspector | $101,000 |
| Ship Engineer | $84,630 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $81,490 |
| Flight Attendant | $79,390 |
| Traffic Technician | $78,640 |
| Rail Transportation Worker | $68,250 |
| Bus Driver | $68,020 |
| Pump Operator | $63,060 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $83.18 ($173,000 a year).
Do air traffic controllers make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $173,000 against $148,100 nationally, 17% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $160,100, so Los Angeles pays 8% more.
Where does Los Angeles rank for air traffic controller pay?
11 of 37 metro areas with data.
How much does an air traffic controller make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $63,520 or less a year; the top 10% make $225,700 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.