Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee in the United States is $66,941 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,207
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,451 to $75,455
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52,632
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $59,451 10% $52,632 90% $83,207 75% $75,455 $66,941 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $75,455 $6,288 $1,451 $36
Average $66,941 $5,578 $1,287 $32
25th Percentile $59,451 $4,954 $1,143 $29
Check out Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Job Openings in the United States
TEMPORARY Air Traffic Control Specialist

US Government Jobs - Cleveland, OH

TEMPORARY Air Traffic Control Specialist

Department of Transportation - Cleveland, OH

Pediatric Psychologist

Vibrant Minds - Applied Behavioral Pediatrics - MEDFORD, OR

Operations Specialist

CHS Inc - DICKINSON, ND

Search More Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Salaries

An Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee'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 Control Specialist Trainee Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee'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): $48,876
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $53,872
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $67,461
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $81,824
  • Expert (over 8 years): $105,809
Levels Salary
Traffic C... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee$48,876
Traffic C... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee$53,872
Air Traff... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee$67,461
Traffic S... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee$81,824
Traffic M... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee$105,809
$48,876 0 yr
$53,872 < 2 yrs
$67,461 2-4 yrs
$81,824 5-8 yrs
$105,809 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainees. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $74,117.
  • California: $73,836.
  • Massachusetts: $72,852.

Top Paying Cities for Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainees

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: $84,432
  • San Francisco: $83,508
  • Oakland: $81,748

What Skills Can Increase an Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee'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 Control Specialist Trainee'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
$80,998
21%
Continuous Improvement
$80,998
21%
Billing
$75,643
13%
Scheduling
$74,304
11%
Project Management
$70,957
6%
Alignment
$69,618
4%
Get Latest Data

Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$100,411$48.050%
Financial Services$93,717$45.040%
Internet$90,370$43.035%
Software & Networking$87,023$42.030%
Pharmaceuticals$83,676$40.025%

Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee

Salaries for an Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,954 in 2023 to around $54,695 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,954
2024
$55,050
2025
$54,695
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,954
2024 $55,050
2025 $54,695
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee

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

Find Your Next Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst