Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Michigan
$139,500 / year
≈ $11,650 per month · $67.07 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Michigan · median $123,000
25th percentile
$103,000Average
$139,50075th percentile
$185,000
$103,000Average
$139,50075th percentile
$185,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Air Traffic Controller salary by state
Alabama$121,500
Alaska$135,000
Arizona$145,500
Arkansas$112,500
California$162,500
Colorado$164,500
Connecticut$147,000
District of Columbia$100,000
Florida$149,000
Georgia$170,500
Hawaii$156,500
Illinois$170,000
Indiana$150,000
Iowa$95,000
Kansas$154,500
Kentucky$126,000
Louisiana$110,000
Maine$96,500
Maryland$141,000
Massachusetts$137,500
Michigan$139,500
Minnesota$168,500
Mississippi$97,000
Missouri$130,500
Montana$102,000
Nebraska$117,000
Nevada$149,000
New Jersey$144,500
New Mexico$145,000
New York$160,000
North Carolina$141,500
North Dakota$110,500
Oklahoma$129,500
Pennsylvania$148,000
Rhode Island$125,000
South Carolina$115,000
Tennessee$154,000
Texas$162,000
Utah$153,000
Vermont$113,500
Virginia$182,000
Washington$159,500
Wyoming$100,500
About this role
Air Traffic Controller is a professional role within the function in the Transportation and Material Moving job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Air Traffic Controllers do
Typical education: High School Diploma
- Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
- Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
- Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
- Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
- Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
Top skills: Active Listening Speaking Judgment and Decision Making Critical Thinking Monitoring Complex Problem Solving
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Air Traffic Controller pay by experience level
Entry level$81,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$108,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$153,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$197,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$223,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,200
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Air Traffic Controller salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
20,740 workers
$156,000Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
20,530 workers
$157,000Support Activities for Transportation
1,150 workers
$83,500Support Activities for Air Transportation
1,080 workers
$85,500Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
190 workers
$85,000Educational Services
40 workers
$62,000Educational Services, Privately Owned
40 workers
$62,000Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$168,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Air Traffic Controller pays 120% above the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).
Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving
Commercial Pilot$151,000
Ship Engineer$115,500
Aviation Inspector$91,500
Locomotive Engineer$89,000
Flight Attendant$80,000
Crane and Tower Operators$74,500
Wellhead Pumper$73,000
Careers related to Air Traffic Controller
Commercial Pilot$151,000
Locomotive Engineer$89,000
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Air Traffic Controller make?
The average base salary for a Air Traffic Controller in the United States is $151,500 per year, or about $72.84 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $108,000 and $197,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Transportation and Material Moving roles?
The Transportation and Material Moving job family averages $69,000 across 53 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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