How much does an air traffic controller make in San Francisco?
$193,400a year
Median yearly pay for air traffic controllers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $92.96 an hour or $16,110 a month.
- Hourly
- $92.96
- Vs. national median
- +31%
- Rank among cities
- 3 of 37
- Jobs in the area
- 430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $102,200Median: $193,400Highest 10%: $225,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $102,200 | $49.12 | |
| 25th | $153,200 | $73.67 | |
| Median | $193,400 | $92.96 | |
| 75th | $218,100 | $104.84 | |
| 90th | $225,700 | $108.50 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for air traffic controllers.
| Sacramento, CA | $196,300 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $173,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $94,140 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $374,700 |
| Commercial Pilot | $173,100 |
| Captain | $124,600 |
| Ship Engineer | $108,800 |
| Transportation Inspector | $104,100 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $98,410 |
| Traffic Technician | $92,710 |
| Flight Attendant | $89,430 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $85,680 |
| Bus Driver | $78,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $92.96 ($193,400 a year).
Do air traffic controllers make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $193,400 against $148,100 nationally, 31% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $160,100, so San Francisco pays 21% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for air traffic controller pay?
3 of 37 metro areas with data.
How much does an air traffic controller make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $102,200 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.