Air Traffic Control Specialist Salary in the United States

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

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for an Air Traffic Control Specialist in the United States is $69,322 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,682
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,203 to $78,932
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,722
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View as table View as graph 25% $62,203 10% $55,722 90% $87,682 75% $78,932 $69,322 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Air Traffic Control Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $78,932 $6,578 $1,518 $38
Average $69,322 $5,777 $1,333 $33
25th Percentile $62,203 $5,184 $1,196 $30
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Key Factors That Influence Air Traffic Control Specialist Salaries

An Air Traffic Control 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 Control Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Air Traffic Control 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): $49,708
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $54,793
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,615
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $83,248
  • Expert (over 8 years): $107,627
Levels Salary
Traffic C... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist$49,708
Traffic C... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist$54,793
Air Traff... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist$68,615
Traffic S... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist$83,248
Traffic M... Level Air Traffic Control Specialist$107,627
$49,708 0 yr
$54,793 < 2 yrs
$68,615 2-4 yrs
$83,248 5-8 yrs
$107,627 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Air Traffic Control 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: $87,436
  • San Francisco: $86,478
  • Oakland: $84,656

What Skills Can Increase an Air Traffic Control 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 Control 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
$83,879
21%
Continuous Improvement
$83,879
21%
Billing
$78,334
13%
Scheduling
$76,947
11%
Project Management
$73,481
6%
Alignment
$72,095
4%
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Air Traffic Control Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Air Traffic Control 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 May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Air Traffic Control Specialist

Salaries for an Air Traffic Control Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $55,914 in 2023 to around $55,651 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Air Traffic Control Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Air Traffic Control Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$55,914
2024
$56,012
2025
$55,651
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $55,914
2024 $56,012
2025 $55,651
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Air Traffic Control Specialist

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

Here are companies hiring for Air Traffic Control 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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