Average Air Traffic Controllers Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Air Traffic Controllers is $148,080 per year. The middle 50% earn between $104,520 and $190,570, with 22,510 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 43 states and 38 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Air Traffic Controllers pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $78,420
- 25th
- $104,520
- Median
- $148,080
- 75th
- $190,570
- 90th
- $215,610
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Air Traffic Controllers are among the highest-paid occupations tracked by BLS, well into the top decile of US wages.
The spread between entry-level and top-end pay is typical for US occupations. Experience and specialization matter, but the range is not unusually wide.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for air traffic controllers from 2024 to 2034. Growth is below the US average of roughly 4% across all occupations. The field is relatively stable but not expanding quickly.
- Projected growth
- +1.2%
- 300 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 2,200
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings reflect typical replacement demand alongside any growth.
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
Where Air Traffic Controllers earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where air traffic controllers work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is Virginia at $191,820, about 29.5% above the national median. At the metro level, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD leads with a median of $198,590.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $191,820 | 1,120 |
| Illinois | $181,560 | 990 |
| Georgia | $178,420 | 970 |
| Colorado | $177,380 | 740 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 | 680 |
| Texas | $170,080 | 2,060 |
| Washington | $162,570 | 620 |
| California | $160,080 | 2,290 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $198,590 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $196,290 | 240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $193,360 | 430 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $189,780 | 850 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $186,640 | 810 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $186,510 | 800 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $179,670 | 620 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $178,310 | 180 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see air traffic controllers pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2025, the national median salary for Air Traffic Controllers rose from $122,990 to $148,080, a gain of +20.4% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +25.9%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $122,990 would need to be worth $154,878 in 2025 dollars.
The actual 2025 median of $148,080 is −$6,798 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -4.4% in purchasing power.
Adjusted for inflation, pay has lost ground. Nominal growth of 20.4% has not kept up with rising prices.
- Nominal change
- +20.4%
- 2019–2025
- Cumulative inflation
- +25.9%
- US CPI, 2019–2025
- Real change
- -4.4%
- After adjusting for inflation
Median salary over time
Air Traffic Controllers median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $148,080
- 2024
- $144,580
- 2023
- $137,380
- 2022
- $132,250
- 2021
- $129,750
- 2020
- $130,420
- 2019
- $122,990
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2018, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Commercial Pilots
- $123,220
- Flight Attendants
- $63,580
- Airfield Operations Specialists
- $56,850
- Ship Engineers
- $109,530
- Transportation Inspectors
- $92,100
- Subway And Streetcar Operators
- $86,380
Common salary questions for Air Traffic Controllers
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Air Traffic Controllers workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.