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 is a professional role in the Transportation and Material Moving job family, focused on Air Traffic Controller work. 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 ListeningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringComplex 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
$156,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
20,530 workers
$157,000
Support Activities for Transportation
1,150 workers
$83,500
Support Activities for Air Transportation
1,080 workers
$85,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
190 workers
$85,000
Educational Services
40 workers
$62,000
Educational Services, Privately Owned
40 workers
$62,000
Professional, 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
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.
