How much does an air traffic controller make? Air Traffic Controller salary and hourly pay
An air traffic controller in the US earns a median of $148,080 a year, about $71.19 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $78,420 and the top 10% earn over $215,610. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Virginia, has a median of $191,820.
Air Traffic Controller pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour?
The median air traffic controller earns $71.19 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $37.70 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103.66 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $78,420 | $37.70 |
| Lower 25% | $104,520 | $50.25 |
| Median (typical) | $148,080 | $71.19 |
| Upper 25% | $190,570 | $91.62 |
| Top 10% | $215,610 | $103.66 |
Air Traffic Controller salary by state
Median annual pay for air traffic controllers in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $114,960 | $55.27 |
| Alaska | $123,950 | $59.59 |
| Arizona | $136,800 | $65.77 |
| Arkansas | $109,760 | $52.77 |
| California | $160,080 | $76.96 |
| Colorado | $177,380 | $85.28 |
| Connecticut | $140,940 | $67.76 |
| Delaware | Not published | – |
| District of Columbia | $47,760 | $22.96 |
| Florida | $147,530 | $70.93 |
| Georgia | $178,420 | $85.78 |
| Hawaii | $158,700 | $76.30 |
| Idaho | Not published | – |
| Illinois | $181,560 | $87.29 |
| Indiana | $158,810 | $76.35 |
| Iowa | $90,790 | $43.65 |
| Kansas | $159,700 | $76.78 |
| Kentucky | $127,800 | $61.44 |
| Louisiana | $99,810 | $47.99 |
| Maine | $107,270 | $51.57 |
| Maryland | $131,290 | $63.12 |
| Massachusetts | $125,060 | $60.12 |
| Michigan | $118,930 | $57.18 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 | $85.02 |
| Mississippi | $88,110 | $42.36 |
| Missouri | $122,200 | $58.75 |
| Montana | $101,380 | $48.74 |
| Nebraska | $111,710 | $53.71 |
| Nevada | $140,920 | $67.75 |
| New Hampshire | Not published | – |
| New Jersey | $132,230 | $63.57 |
| New Mexico | $148,550 | $71.42 |
| New York | $144,960 | $69.69 |
| North Carolina | $129,230 | $62.13 |
| North Dakota | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Ohio | Not published | – |
| Oklahoma | $123,220 | $59.24 |
| Oregon | Not published | – |
| Pennsylvania | $132,350 | $63.63 |
| Rhode Island | $126,300 | $60.72 |
| South Carolina | $112,030 | $53.86 |
| South Dakota | Not published | – |
| Tennessee | $157,330 | $75.64 |
| Texas | $170,080 | $81.77 |
| Utah | $158,310 | $76.11 |
| Vermont | $109,140 | $52.47 |
| Virginia | $191,820 | $92.22 |
| Washington | $162,570 | $78.16 |
| West Virginia | Not published | – |
| Wisconsin | Not published | – |
| Wyoming | $93,580 | $44.99 |
Highest-paying states for air traffic controllers
- Virginia: $191,820 median
- Illinois: $181,560 median
- Georgia: $178,420 median
- Colorado: $177,380 median
- Minnesota: $176,840 median
The lowest medians are in District of Columbia ($47,760), Mississippi ($88,110), Iowa ($90,790), Wyoming ($93,580), Louisiana ($99,810). The most air traffic controller jobs are in California (2,290 jobs), Texas (2,060 jobs), Florida (1,950 jobs), New York (1,150 jobs), Virginia (1,120 jobs).
How much does an air traffic controller make a month?
At the median salary of $148,080, an air traffic controller earns about $12,340 a month, $5,695 every two weeks or $2,848 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced air traffic controller pay
New air traffic controllers typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $78,420 a year and the lowest 25% under $104,520. The top 25% earn over $190,570 and the top 10% over $215,610. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Air Traffic Controller salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Air traffic controller | $148,080 |
| Pilot | $232,140 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 |
| Police officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Real estate agent | $52,830 |
| Flight attendant | $63,580 |
Common questions
How much does an air traffic controller make?
The US median is $148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour?
The median is about $71.19 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $37.70 and the top 10% about $103.66 an hour.
Which state pays air traffic controllers the most?
Virginia has the highest median at $191,820, followed by Illinois ($181,560) and Georgia ($178,420).
How much does an air traffic controller make a month?
At the US median of $148,080 a year, about $12,340 a month or $5,695 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level air traffic controller make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $78,420 a year and the lowest 25% under $104,520, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of air traffic controllers make?
The top 10% earn over $215,610 a year; the top 25% earn over $190,570.
How much does an air traffic controller make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $160,080 in California, $170,080 in Texas, $147,530 in Florida, $144,960 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 53-2021, “Air Traffic Controllers”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.