The average salary for an air traffic controller in the United States is around $114,757 per year.
Avg Salary
Air traffic controllers earn an average yearly salary of $114,757.
Wages typically start from $63,756 and go up to $206,557.
93% above national average Updated in 2019
Air traffic controller earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$99.31 per hour
$206,557 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$75.17 per hour
$156,360 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$55.17 per hour
$114,757 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$40.49 per hour
$84,224 per year
10th percentile
Starting level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$30.65 per hour
$63,756 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Air traffic controller salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Michigan | $99,360 |
| Massachusetts | $98,940 |
| Wisconsin | $98,860 |
| Puerto Rico | $98,770 |
| Alaska | $93,215 |
| Arizona | $92,489 |
| Oregon | $92,030 |
| Arkansas | $91,300 |
| South Carolina | $90,400 |
| North Dakota | $89,910 |
| Nebraska | $89,450 |
| Guam | $84,900 |
| Mississippi | $82,700 |
| Louisiana | $82,630 |
| Iowa | $82,460 |
| Idaho | $81,118 |
| Connecticut | $80,790 |
| South Dakota | $79,120 |
| West Virginia | $76,220 |
| Vermont | $75,970 |
| Montana | $71,390 |
| Alabama | $60,108 |
| District of Columbia | $24,080 |
| Virginia | $150,880 |
| New Hampshire | $146,080 |
| Georgia | $145,770 |
| Texas | $142,980 |
| California | $141,970 |
| Minnesota | $141,360 |
| Ohio | $139,970 |
| Colorado | $136,610 |
| New York | $135,230 |
| Kansas | $133,040 |
| Tennessee | $130,130 |
| Illinois | $127,438 |
| Nevada | $127,290 |
| Utah | $125,600 |
| Washington | $125,330 |
| Florida | $123,940 |
| Indiana | $122,470 |
| New Mexico | $122,090 |
| New Jersey | $117,950 |
| Maryland | $117,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $115,040 |
| Oklahoma | $109,230 |
| Kentucky | $104,730 |
| Hawaii | $103,380 |
| Rhode Island | $101,450 |
| North Carolina | $100,710 |
| Missouri | $100,280 |
How do air traffic controller salaries compare to similar careers?
Air traffic controllers earn 33% more than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make more than shipmates.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Air traffic controller salary | $115K |
| Commercial pilot salary | $88K |
| Ship captain salary | $72K |
| Transportation planner salary | $78K |
| Shipmate salary | $72K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)