How much does an air traffic controller make in Seattle?
$175,300a year
Median yearly pay for air traffic controllers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area. That is $84.27 an hour or $14,610 a month.
- Hourly
- $84.27
- Vs. national median
- +18%
- Rank among cities
- 9 of 37
- Jobs in the area
- 510
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $96,640Median: $175,300Highest 10%: $215,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $96,640 | $46.46 | |
| 25th | $125,300 | $60.26 | |
| Median | $175,300 | $84.27 | |
| 75th | $200,800 | $96.53 | |
| 90th | $215,800 | $103.77 |
Other cities in Washington
Median yearly pay for air traffic controllers.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Seattle
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $229,900 |
| Transportation Inspector | $129,500 |
| Commercial Pilot | $127,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $114,300 |
| Captain | $109,100 |
| Ship Engineer | $108,900 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $92,400 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $84,050 |
| Bus Driver | $83,430 |
| Rail Transportation Worker | $79,120 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour in Seattle?
The median hourly pay in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $84.27 ($175,300 a year).
Do air traffic controllers make more in Seattle than the national average?
Yes: $175,300 against $148,100 nationally, 18% more.
How does Seattle compare with the rest of Washington?
The median in Washington is $162,600, so Seattle pays 8% more.
Where does Seattle rank for air traffic controller pay?
9 of 37 metro areas with data.
How much does an air traffic controller make starting out in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% make $96,640 or less a year; the top 10% make $215,800 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.