How much do air traffic controllers make?
Answer
Air traffic controllers in the US earned a median of $148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $104,520 to $190,570.
- Median annual pay
- $148,080
- Mean $146,490
- Median hourly pay
- $71.19
- Mean $70.43
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $78.4K–$216K
- $78,420 to $215,610
- US jobs
- 22,510
- +1.7% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become an air traffic controller: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Virginia
Air Traffic Controller pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$78,420
- 25th percentile$104,520
- Median$148,080
- 75th percentile$190,570
- 90th percentile$215,610
Half of all air traffic controllers earned more than $148,080 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $78,420; the top 10% made over $215,610. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $104,520 to $190,570.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,420 | $37.70 | $6,535 |
| 25th | $104,520 | $50.25 | $8,710 |
| Median (50th) | $148,080 | $71.19 | $12,340 |
| 75th | $190,570 | $91.62 | $15,881 |
| 90th | $215,610 | $103.66 | $17,968 |
| Mean (average) | $146,490 | $70.43 | $12,208 |
Air Traffic Controller salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. Virginia $191,820
- 2. Illinois $181,560
- 3. Georgia $178,420
- 4. Colorado $177,380
- 5. Minnesota $176,840
Lowest-paying states
- 43. District of Columbia $47,760
- 42. Mississippi $88,110
- 41. Iowa $90,790
- 40. Wyoming $93,580
- 39. Louisiana $99,810
Best after cost of living: Virginia. Its median of $191,820 is worth about $189,725 at national-average prices.
| Alabama | $114,960 | 31 | $129,426 | 25 | $55.27 | 240 | 0.12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $123,950 | 27 | $121,093 | 33 | $59.59 | 490 | 1.50 |
| Arizona | $136,800 | 19 | $135,880 | 21 | $65.77 | 380 | 0.12 |
| Arkansas | $109,760 | 34 | $126,252 | 26 | $52.77 | 80 | 0.06 |
| California | $160,080 | 8 | $144,581 | 13 | $76.96 | 2,290 | 0.13 |
| Colorado | $177,380 | 4 | $172,127 | 7 | $85.28 | 740 | 0.26 |
| Connecticut | $140,940 | 17 | $136,029 | 20 | $67.76 | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | $47,760 | 43 | $43,457 | 43 | $22.96 | 820 | 1.17 |
| Florida | $147,530 | 15 | $142,660 | 15 | $70.93 | 1,950 | 0.20 |
| Georgia | $178,420 | 3 | $185,289 | 2 | $85.78 | 970 | 0.20 |
| Hawaii | $158,700 | 11 | $144,337 | 14 | $76.30 | 210 | 0.33 |
| Idaho | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Illinois | $181,560 | 2 | $181,636 | 3 | $87.29 | 990 | 0.16 |
| Indiana | $158,810 | 10 | $170,161 | 9 | $76.35 | 630 | 0.20 |
| Iowa | $90,790 | 41 | $103,450 | 40 | $43.65 | 120 | 0.08 |
| Kansas | $159,700 | 9 | $177,310 | 5 | $76.78 | 430 | 0.30 |
| Kentucky | $127,800 | 24 | $141,750 | 16 | $61.44 | 230 | 0.11 |
| Louisiana | $99,810 | 39 | $113,154 | 36 | $47.99 | 230 | 0.12 |
| Maine | $107,270 | 37 | $110,531 | 38 | $51.57 | 70 | 0.11 |
| Maryland | $131,290 | 22 | $125,087 | 27 | $63.12 | 70 | 0.03 |
| Massachusetts | $125,060 | 26 | $118,252 | 35 | $60.13 | 120 | 0.03 |
| Michigan | $118,930 | 30 | $123,606 | 29 | $57.18 | 360 | 0.08 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 | 5 | $179,313 | 4 | $85.02 | 680 | 0.23 |
| Mississippi | $88,110 | 42 | $101,331 | 41 | $42.36 | 160 | 0.13 |
| Missouri | $122,200 | 29 | $134,556 | 23 | $58.75 | 260 | 0.09 |
| Montana | $101,380 | 38 | $107,116 | 39 | $48.74 | 60 | 0.12 |
| Nebraska | $111,710 | 33 | $123,980 | 28 | $53.71 | 70 | 0.07 |
| Nevada | $140,920 | 18 | $140,950 | 17 | $67.75 | 210 | 0.13 |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New Jersey | $132,230 | 21 | $121,529 | 31 | $63.57 | 190 | 0.04 |
| New Mexico | $148,550 | 14 | $161,096 | 10 | $71.42 | 350 | 0.40 |
| New York | $144,960 | 16 | $134,320 | 24 | $69.69 | 1,150 | 0.12 |
| North Carolina | $129,230 | 23 | $137,004 | 19 | $62.13 | 410 | 0.08 |
| North Dakota | $107,990 | 36 | $121,393 | 32 | $51.92 | 100 | 0.24 |
| Ohio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oklahoma | $123,220 | 28 | $140,273 | 18 | $59.24 | 270 | 0.16 |
| Oregon | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | $132,350 | 20 | $135,643 | 22 | $63.63 | 460 | 0.08 |
| Rhode Island | $126,300 | 25 | $123,485 | 30 | $60.72 | 50 | 0.09 |
| South Carolina | $112,030 | 32 | $119,500 | 34 | $53.86 | 190 | 0.08 |
| South Dakota | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tennessee | $157,330 | 13 | $171,253 | 8 | $75.64 | 590 | 0.18 |
| Texas | $170,080 | 6 | $175,237 | 6 | $81.77 | 2,060 | 0.15 |
| Utah | $158,310 | 12 | $160,129 | 11 | $76.11 | 360 | 0.21 |
| Vermont | $109,140 | 35 | $111,415 | 37 | $52.47 | 30 | 0.10 |
| Virginia | $191,820 | 1 | $189,725 | 1 | $92.22 | 1,120 | 0.27 |
| Washington | $162,570 | 7 | $151,916 | 12 | $78.16 | 620 | 0.17 |
| West Virginia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | $93,580 | 40 | $100,959 | 42 | $44.99 | 40 | 0.13 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (8 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for air traffic controllers
36 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $198,590 | $193,644 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $196,290 | $184,016 | 240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $193,360 | $167,248 | 430 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $189,780 | $183,194 | 850 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $186,640 | $186,532 | 810 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $186,510 | $180,920 | 800 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $179,670 | $171,405 | 620 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $178,310 | $177,780 | 180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $175,280 | $157,721 | 510 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $174,870 | $160,602 | 1,800 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,800 | $174,870 | $160,602 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,010 | — | — |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 850 | $189,780 | $183,194 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 810 | $186,640 | $186,532 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 800 | $186,510 | $180,920 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 720 | $162,140 | $142,035 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 690 | $173,020 | $152,352 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 620 | $179,670 | $171,405 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 510 | $175,280 | $157,721 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 470 | $171,910 | $179,642 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves air traffic controller pay: employers and settings
The employer is the first thing that sets controller pay. FAA controllers in the federal executive branch report a median of $156,250. Controllers in support activities for air transportation, which includes privately run towers, report $83,890 while local government towers report $83,880. Private employers overall come in at $85,340.
Within the FAA, the type and traffic level of the facility matter, since busier towers, TRACONs and en route centers handle more complex airspace. That shows up in the state figures. Virginia has the highest median at $191,820, followed by Illinois at $181,560, Georgia at $178,420, Colorado at $177,380, and Minnesota at $176,840. Virginia still leads after living costs, at $189,725. Iowa at $90,790, Mississippi at $88,110, and the District of Columbia at $47,760 are the lowest.
Across the occupation, the 10th percentile is $78,420, the median $148,080, and the 90th percentile $215,610, a wide spread. Employer, facility level, location and overtime all shape where a controller ends up within that range, and the percentiles do not map neatly onto years of experience.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch | 91.2% | $156,250 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 4.8% | $83,890 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals | 0.8% | $83,880 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 1,770 | $85,340 |
| Federal government (incl. Postal Service) | 20,530 | $156,250 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 190 | $83,880 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
Air Traffic Controller pay over time
Median annual pay, 2015–2025
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $122,950 in 2015 to $148,080 in 2025, up 20% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $166,204 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay fell 11% over the period.
BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.
What air traffic controllers do
An air traffic controller keeps aircraft safely separated and moving, on the ground and in the air. Controllers talk to pilots by radio, issue clearances to taxi, take off and land, assign headings and altitudes, and pass along weather and runway conditions. They watch radar and flight data displays, often juggling a dozen or more aircraft at once, and coordinate handoffs with the next sector or facility.
There are three main kinds of work. Tower controllers handle the runways and the airspace right around an airport, working from the glass cab at the top of the tower. Approach and departure controllers, in radar rooms called TRACONs, sequence aircraft climbing out of and descending into busy airports. En route controllers at the large air route traffic control centers handle high-altitude traffic across the country. Almost every controller in the US works for the Federal Aviation Administration: 91.2% of the jobs in our data are in the federal executive branch. A smaller group works at towers run by private companies or local governments. Busy facilities operate around the clock, so rotating shifts, nights, weekends and holidays are part of the job, and FAA controllers must retire at 56.
A typical day
- Issue taxi, takeoff and landing clearances and keep runways clear of conflicts
- Track aircraft on radar and assign headings, speeds and altitudes to keep them apart
- Sequence arrivals into busy airports so they land in a steady, safe stream
- Hand off aircraft to the next sector or facility and accept incoming ones
- Relay weather, wind, visibility and runway information to pilots
- Help pilots in emergencies find the nearest suitable airport and alert rescue crews
- Brief the incoming controller on traffic and conditions at each position change
Also called: atcs (air traffic control specialist), center atc (center air traffic controller), certified professional controller (cpc), developmental air traffic controller, developmental atcs (developmental air traffic control specialist), enroute atcs (enroute air traffic control specialist), radar air traffic controller, terminal atc specialist (terminal air traffic control specialist).
How to become an air traffic controller
Full guideTo become an FAA air traffic controller, you apply before age 31 with a bachelor's degree, an associate or bachelor's degree from an AT-CTI school, or qualifying work experience, pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment, medical and security checks, complete training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, then spend 1 to 3 years in on-the-job training to become certified.
- Typical time
- 4-7 years including a degree
- Fastest: About 2 years after hiring
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's degree in any field, an associate or bachelor's degree from an FAA AT-CTI school, up to 3 years of progressively responsible work experience, or a combination
- License
- Federal, not state: FAA credential with a tower rating or a control tower operator certificate under 14 CFR Part 65, or qualified and supervised status; FAA hiring rules apply to FAA controllers
- Typical training cost
- $0–$37.9K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming an air traffic controller: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 4-7 years including a degree
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $0–$37.9K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $148,080
- $97,100 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 0–26%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($97,100 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in less than a year after training ends (4-7 years including a degree in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for air traffic controllers
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +1.7%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 24,000
- 24,400 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 2,100
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- —
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects air traffic controller jobs to grow 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, from 24,000 to 24,400, slower than the 3.5% for all occupations. Even so, about 2,100 openings are expected each year, mostly from retirements; with mandatory retirement at 56, turnover is built into the job.
BLS explains the slow growth by technology: air traffic is expected to grow, but satellite-based NextGen systems let each controller handle more flights. To compete for those openings, FAA applicants must be under 31 and pass an aptitude test, a medical exam and a background check.
Related careers and their pay
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Train Conductor$78,000
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Bus Driver$59,050
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Air Traffic Controller salary FAQ
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for air traffic controllers was $71.19 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37.70 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $103.66. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays air traffic controllers the most?
Virginia has the highest median pay for air traffic controllers, $191,820 a year, followed by Illinois ($181,560) and Georgia ($178,420). After adjusting for each state's price level, Virginia comes out ahead at about $189,725 in national-average dollars.
Do air traffic controllers make $200,000 a year?
Some do: based on the BLS percentiles, between 10% and 25% of air traffic controllers earn more than $200,000 a year. The median is $148,080, and the top 10% earn more than $215,610. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
Has air traffic controller pay kept up with inflation?
No. The median rose from $122,950 in 2015 to $148,080 in 2025, but in 2025 dollars the 2015 median was worth $166,204. After inflation, the typical controller earns noticeably less than ten years earlier. Because most controllers are federal employees, pay follows the FAA's pay system and federal pay decisions rather than a private job market.
Do private air traffic controllers earn less than FAA controllers?
In our data, yes, by a wide margin. Federal controllers have a median of $156,250 against $83,890 for those in support activities for air transportation, which includes privately run contract towers. Private employers overall report $85,340. There are also far fewer of those jobs: about 1,770 controllers work for private employers, against 20,530 in the federal government.
Which states have the most air traffic controller jobs?
California has the most, with 2,290 controllers, followed by Texas with 2,060, Florida with 1,950, New York with 1,150 and Virginia with 1,120. Those states have many airports and large en route centers and TRACONs. New FAA controllers do not get to pick freely, though: the agency assigns graduates to facilities based on its staffing needs, so you may start far from home.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 53-2021
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (53-2021.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Air Traffic Controllers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- Air Traffic Controller Hiring, Federal Aviation Administration · checked October 28, 2026
- FAA Announces First Two Schools for Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative Program, Federal Aviation Administration · checked October 28, 2026
- 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart B: Air Traffic Control Tower Operators (65.31, 65.33, 65.37), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- FAA and NATCA Reach Agreement to Address Controller Fatigue by Providing More Rest Between Shifts, Federal Aviation Administration · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.