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Air Traffic Controller Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Air Traffic Controller in the United States is $59,361 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,293
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $53,790 to $67,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,718
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Air Traffic Controller Salaries

An Air Traffic Controller'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Air Traffic Controller Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Air Traffic Controller'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): $52,959
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $58,747
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $73,972
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $83,104
  • Expert (over 8 years): $120,168
Levels Salary
Contact C... Level Air Traffic Controller$52,959
Air Traff... Level Air Traffic Controller$58,747
Contact C... Level Air Traffic Controller$73,972
Contact C... Level Air Traffic Controller$83,104
Contact C... Level Air Traffic Controller$120,168
View as Graph

How Do Air Traffic Controller 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 Controllers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $65,724.
  • California: $65,475.
  • Massachusetts: $64,602.

Top Paying Cities for Air Traffic Controllers

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: $74,871
  • San Francisco: $74,052
  • Oakland: $72,491

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 2.52% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Safety Training (Mentioned in 0.35% Job Postings): Providing learning programs designed to train employees on precautionary processes and procedures to perform their duties safely and effectively.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 0.27% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 2.52%
Safety Training 0.35%
Installation 0.27%
See More Skills

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's salary.

  • Microsoft Project: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • WFM: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Workforce Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Microsoft Project $73,607
24%
WFM $69,452
17%
Workforce Management $68,265
15%
Get Latest Data

Air Traffic Controller Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Air Traffic Controller roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 43% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Air Traffic Controller positions in Transportation or Chemicals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Air Traffic Controller as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Air Traffic Controller

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$68,265$33.015%
Aerospace & Defense$66,484$32.012%
Telecom$65,890$32.011%
Hospitality & Leisure$65,297$31.010%
Internet$64,109$31.08%

How Education impacts an Air Traffic Controller's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Air Traffic Controllers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Air Traffic Controller with a Bachelor's Degree is between $60,536 and $64,640).

Air Traffic Controller Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Air Traffic Controller
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 33.8%
Associates 11.5%
Bachelors 46.5%
Masters 7.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Air Traffic Controller Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Air Traffic Controller'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 September 01, 2026
$53,790
Average $59,361/year
$67,700
$4,482
Average $4,947/month
$5,642
$1,034
Average $1,142/week
$1,302
$26
Average $29/hour
$33
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $67,700 $5,642 $1,302 $33
Average $59,361 $4,947 $1,142 $29
25th Percentile $53,790 $4,482 $1,034 $26

Most common benefits for Air Traffic Controller

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

Common company salaries for Air Traffic Controller

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

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FAQ about Air Traffic Controller

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Air Traffic Controller?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Air Traffic Controller roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

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.

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