Air Traffic Controllers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for air traffic controllers is $148,080, or $71.19 per hour. About 22,510 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $191,820 in Virginia to $47,760 in District of Columbia.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 43 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $191,820 | $92.22 | 1,120 | 1.88 |
| 2 | Illinois | $181,560 | $87.29 | 990 | 1.12 |
| 3 | Georgia | $178,420 | $85.78 | 970 | 1.37 |
| 4 | Colorado | $177,380 | $85.28 | 740 | 1.77 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $176,840 | $85.02 | 680 | 1.60 |
| 6 | Texas | $170,080 | $81.77 | 2,060 | 1.01 |
| 7 | Washington | $162,570 | $78.16 | 620 | 1.20 |
| 8 | California | $160,080 | $76.96 | 2,290 | 0.87 |
| 9 | Kansas | $159,700 | $76.78 | 430 | 2.04 |
| 10 | Indiana | $158,810 | $76.35 | 630 | 1.36 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $158,700 | $76.30 | 210 | 2.26 |
| 12 | Utah | $158,310 | $76.11 | 360 | 1.44 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $157,330 | $75.64 | 590 | 1.24 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $148,550 | $71.42 | 350 | 2.78 |
| 15 | Florida | $147,530 | $70.93 | 1,950 | 1.35 |
| 16 | New York | $144,960 | $69.69 | 1,150 | 0.82 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $140,940 | $67.76 | — | — |
| 18 | Nevada | $140,920 | $67.75 | 210 | 0.93 |
| 19 | Arizona | $136,800 | $65.77 | 380 | 0.81 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $132,350 | $63.63 | 460 | 0.53 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $132,230 | $63.57 | 190 | 0.30 |
| 22 | Maryland | $131,290 | $63.12 | 70 | 0.18 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $129,230 | $62.13 | 410 | 0.57 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $127,800 | $61.44 | 230 | 0.79 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $126,300 | $60.72 | 50 | 0.64 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $125,060 | $60.13 | 120 | 0.22 |
| 27 | Alaska | $123,950 | $59.59 | 490 | 10.35 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $123,220 | $59.24 | 270 | 1.08 |
| 29 | Missouri | $122,200 | $58.75 | 260 | 0.61 |
| 30 | Michigan | $118,930 | $57.18 | 360 | 0.56 |
| 31 | Alabama | $114,960 | $55.27 | 240 | 0.79 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $112,030 | $53.86 | 190 | 0.57 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $111,710 | $53.71 | 70 | 0.46 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $109,760 | $52.77 | 80 | 0.44 |
| 35 | Vermont | $109,140 | $52.47 | 30 | 0.68 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $107,990 | $51.92 | 100 | 1.69 |
| 37 | Maine | $107,270 | $51.57 | 70 | 0.77 |
| 38 | Montana | $101,380 | $48.74 | 60 | 0.85 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $99,810 | $47.99 | 230 | 0.84 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $93,580 | $44.99 | 40 | 0.89 |
| 41 | Iowa | $90,790 | $43.65 | 120 | 0.55 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $88,110 | $42.36 | 160 | 0.92 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $47,760 | $22.96 | 820 | 8.08 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do air traffic controllers make?
The median annual wage for air traffic controllers in the United States is $148,080, or $71.19 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $78,420, and the top 10% earn $215,610.
How many air traffic controllers are employed in the U.S.?
About 22,510 people work as air traffic controllers nationwide.
Which state pays air traffic controllers the most?
Virginia pays the most at a median of $191,820, followed by Illinois ($181,560) and Georgia ($178,420).
Which state pays air traffic controllers the least?
District of Columbia has the lowest median at $47,760.
Where are air traffic controllers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Alaska at 10.35×.