SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 53-2021.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $78,420 | $6,535 | $1,508 | $37.70 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $104,520 | $8,710 | $2,010 | $50.25 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $148,080 | $12,340 | $2,848 | $71.19 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $190,570 | $15,881 | $3,665 | $91.62 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $215,610 | $17,968 | $4,146 | $103.66 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Air Traffic Controllers is $148,080, which is 190% higher. Among the 50 occupations of the field Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks number 2 by median pay. With 22,510 jobs, it makes up about 1.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Air Traffic Controllers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Virginia ($191,820), Illinois ($181,560) and Georgia ($178,420). The lowest was in District of Columbia ($47,760), Guam ($82,830) and Mississippi ($88,110). The most jobs were in California (2,290), Texas (2,060) and Florida (1,950). The occupation is most concentrated in Alaska, where its share of all jobs is 10.3 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 1,120 | $191,820 | $175,740 | $92.22 |
| Illinois | 990 | $181,560 | $164,200 | $87.29 |
| Georgia | 970 | $178,420 | $164,700 | $85.78 |
| Colorado | 740 | $177,380 | $158,790 | $85.28 |
| Minnesota | 680 | $176,840 | $162,920 | $85.02 |
| Texas | 2,060 | $170,080 | $156,370 | $81.77 |
| Washington | 620 | $162,570 | $154,320 | $78.16 |
| California | 2,290 | $160,080 | $156,910 | $76.96 |
| Kansas | 430 | $159,700 | $149,440 | $76.78 |
| Indiana | 630 | $158,810 | $145,010 | $76.35 |
| Hawaii | 210 | $158,700 | $151,040 | $76.30 |
| Utah | 360 | $158,310 | $147,710 | $76.11 |
| Tennessee | 590 | $157,330 | $149,020 | $75.64 |
| New Mexico | 350 | $148,550 | $140,280 | $71.42 |
| Florida | 1,950 | $147,530 | $144,140 | $70.93 |
| New York | 1,150 | $144,960 | $154,660 | $69.69 |
| Connecticut | not published | $140,940 | $141,920 | $67.76 |
| Nevada | 210 | $140,920 | $143,990 | $67.75 |
| Arizona | 380 | $136,800 | $140,340 | $65.77 |
| Pennsylvania | 460 | $132,350 | $143,180 | $63.63 |
| New Jersey | 190 | $132,230 | $139,660 | $63.57 |
| Maryland | 70 | $131,290 | $136,220 | $63.12 |
| North Carolina | 410 | $129,230 | $136,490 | $62.13 |
| Kentucky | 230 | $127,800 | $121,910 | $61.44 |
| Rhode Island | 50 | $126,300 | $120,870 | $60.72 |
| Puerto Rico | 110 | $125,780 | $122,150 | $60.47 |
| Massachusetts | 120 | $125,060 | $132,750 | $60.13 |
| Alaska | 490 | $123,950 | $130,420 | $59.59 |
| Oklahoma | 270 | $123,220 | $125,280 | $59.24 |
| Missouri | 260 | $122,200 | $125,950 | $58.75 |
| Michigan | 360 | $118,930 | $134,670 | $57.18 |
| Alabama | 240 | $114,960 | $117,540 | $55.27 |
| South Carolina | 190 | $112,030 | $110,990 | $53.86 |
| Nebraska | 70 | $111,710 | $113,210 | $53.71 |
| Arkansas | 80 | $109,760 | $108,570 | $52.77 |
| Vermont | 30 | $109,140 | $109,830 | $52.47 |
| North Dakota | 100 | $107,990 | $106,930 | $51.92 |
| Maine | 70 | $107,270 | $93,400 | $51.57 |
| Montana | 60 | $101,380 | $98,700 | $48.74 |
| Louisiana | 230 | $99,810 | $106,280 | $47.99 |
| Wyoming | 40 | $93,580 | $97,300 | $44.99 |
| Iowa | 120 | $90,790 | $91,670 | $43.65 |
| Mississippi | 160 | $88,110 | $93,850 | $42.36 |
| Guam | 40 | $82,830 | $95,420 | $39.82 |
| District of Columbia | 820 | $47,760 | $96,410 | $22.96 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$232,140 a year
- Commercial Pilots$123,220 a year
- Ship Engineers$109,530 a year
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$92,460 a year
Common questions
How much do Air Traffic Controllers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $148,080 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $78,420 and the highest-paid 10% more than $215,610.
How many people work as Air Traffic Controllers?
About 22,510 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.