Air Traffic Controller Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does an Air Traffic Controller Specialist make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Air Traffic Controller Specialist in the United States is $70,069 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

However, an Air Traffic Controller Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,285
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,857 to $80,127
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,291
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View as table View as graph 25% $62,857 10% $56,291 90% $89,285 75% $80,127 $70,069 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Air Traffic Controller Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $80,127 $6,677 $1,541 $39
Average $70,069 $5,839 $1,347 $34
25th Percentile $62,857 $5,238 $1,209 $30
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Key Factors That Influence Air Traffic Controller Specialist Salaries

An Air Traffic Controller Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Air Traffic Controller Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Air Traffic Controller Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $49,241
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $54,280
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $67,973
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $82,481
  • Expert (over 8 years): $106,624
Levels Salary
Traffic C... Level Air Traffic Controller Specialist$49,241
Traffic C... Level Air Traffic Controller Specialist$54,280
Air Traff... Level Air Traffic Controller Specialist$67,973
Traffic S... Level Air Traffic Controller Specialist$82,481
Traffic M... Level Air Traffic Controller Specialist$106,624
$49,241 0 yr
$54,280 < 2 yrs
$67,973 2-4 yrs
$82,481 5-8 yrs
$106,624 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Air Traffic Controller Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $88,378
  • San Francisco: $87,509
  • Oakland: $85,568

What Skills Can Increase an Air Traffic Controller Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.69% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Warehouse Management System (Mentioned in 3.69% Job Postings): A set of policies and processes intended to organise the work of a warehouse or distribution centre, and ensure that such a facility can operate efficiently and meet its objectives.
  • ERP (Mentioned in 0.92% Job Postings): Enterprise resource planning (ERP) refers to a type of software that organizations use to manage day-to-day business activities such as accounting, procurement, project management, risk management and compliance, and supply chain operations.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.69%
Warehouse Management System 3.69%
ERP 0.92%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Air Traffic Controller Specialist's salary.
  • Microsoft Word: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Billing: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Microsoft Word
$84,783
21%
Continuous Improvement
$84,783
21%
Billing
$79,178
13%
Scheduling
$77,776
11%
Project Management
$74,273
6%
Alignment
$72,871
4%
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Air Traffic Controller Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Air Traffic Controller Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Air Traffic Controller Specialist

Salaries for an Air Traffic Controller Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $55,401 in 2023 to around $55,139 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Air Traffic Controller Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Air Traffic Controller Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$55,401
2024
$55,498
2025
$55,139
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $55,401
2024 $55,498
2025 $55,139
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Air Traffic Controller Specialist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Air Traffic Controller Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Air Traffic Controller Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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