How much does a Air Traffic Controllers make?

The median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers is $148,080 ($71 per hour). Pay ranges from about $78,420 at the 10th percentile to $215,610 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Air Traffic Controllers?

The average (mean) annual salary is $146,490, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Air Traffic Controllerss the most?

Virginia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $191,820.

Is Air Traffic Controllers a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 23K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Air Traffic Controllers do?

Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.; Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.; Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft..

Air Traffic Controllers Salary

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 23K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$148,080

Median hourly

$71

Average annual

$146,490

Typical range

$78,420–$215,610

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$78,420

25th$104,520

Median$148,080

75th$190,570

90th$215,610

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Air Traffic Controllers is $148,080 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $71 an hour at a full-time schedule.

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..

Most earn between $78,420 and $215,610 a year. There are roughly 23K people employed as air traffic controllers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Air Traffic Controllers.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $71.19
Daily: $570
Weekly: $2,848
Bi-weekly: $5,695
Monthly: $12,340
Annual: $148,080

$148,080 a year is around the 50th percentile for Air Traffic Controllerss. The median is $148,080.

Air Traffic Controllers — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$37.70	$78,420
25th percentile	$50.20	$104,520
Median	$71.20	$148,080
75th percentile	$91.60	$190,570
90th percentile	$103.70	$215,610
Average (mean)	$70.40	$146,490
Employment	22,510 people

Key skills

Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving
Coordination
Reading Comprehension
Active Learning
Time Management

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Virginia$191,820
2Illinois$181,560
3Georgia$178,420
4Colorado$177,380
5Minnesota$176,840
6Texas$170,080
7Washington$162,570
8California$160,080
9Kansas$159,700
10Indiana$158,810
11Hawaii$158,700
12Utah$158,310

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$198,590
2Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$196,290
3San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$193,360
4Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$189,780
5Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$186,640
6Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$186,510
7Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$179,670
8Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$178,310
9Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$175,280
10Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$174,870
11Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$173,020
12Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$171,910

Related job titles

Employers advertise Air Traffic Controllers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Air Traffic Controllers does

Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft.
Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers.
Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.
Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Air Traffic Controllers make?: The median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers is $148,080 ($71 per hour). Pay ranges from about $78,420 at the 10th percentile to $215,610 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Air Traffic Controllers?: The average (mean) annual salary is $146,490, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Air Traffic Controllerss the most?: Virginia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $191,820.
Is Air Traffic Controllers a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 23K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Air Traffic Controllers do?: Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.; Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.; Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft..