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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Air Traffic Controller expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $160,617, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $112,432 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
A career as a Air Traffic Controller sits at the intersection of Transportation and Transportation & Logistics. Most professionals enter with FAA training program, and the field is characterized by steady. The work itself is tower shift-based. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$178,020 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Air Traffic Controller in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $292,560 — $178,020 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($114,540). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Air Traffic Controllers in 2026: $115,644 at entry (P10), $160,617 at midpoint, and $228,076 at the senior end (P90). Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The $112,432 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $80,250 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $273,240, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $115,460. The $157,780 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Air Traffic Controller in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $292,560 — $178,020 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($114,540). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Air Traffic Controller is $115,644, while senior-level (P90) earners average $228,076. That $112,432 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Air Traffic Controllers at $193,856 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $170,430) is $23,426.
At the 90th percentile, Air Traffic Controllers pull in an average of $228,076. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $115,644 | $160,617 | $228,076 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £57,784 | £80,256 | £113,964 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$93,056 | CA$129,244 | CA$183,527 |
| Australia | 13 | A$107,582 | A$149,419 | A$212,176 |
| Sweden | 24 | 656,261 kr | 911,474 kr | 1,294,294 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $139,576 | $193,856 | $275,276 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $134,881 | $187,335 | $266,016 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $134,136 | $186,300 | $264,546 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $124,200 | $172,500 | $244,950 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $122,710 | $170,430 | $242,011 |
| Washington | 8 | $120,350 | $167,153 | $237,357 |
| New York | 5 | $113,271 | $157,320 | $223,395 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $113,270 | $157,320 | $223,394 |
| Florida | 22 | $112,412 | $156,128 | $221,702 |
| Colorado | 11 | $110,470 | $153,431 | $217,872 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $110,290 | $153,180 | $217,516 |
| Nevada | 5 | $110,091 | $152,904 | $217,124 |
| Arizona | 12 | $109,544 | $152,145 | $216,046 |
| Oregon | 5 | $109,296 | $151,800 | $215,556 |
| Idaho | 3 | $108,965 | $151,340 | $214,903 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $108,104 | $150,144 | $213,204 |
| Utah | 4 | $107,806 | $149,730 | $212,617 |
| Virginia | 7 | $106,031 | $147,266 | $209,117 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $104,659 | $145,360 | $206,411 |
| Alaska | 1 | $104,328 | $144,900 | $205,758 |
| Illinois | 5 | $103,136 | $143,244 | $203,407 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $100,574 | $139,687 | $198,355 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $99,360 | $138,000 | $195,960 |
| Montana | 1 | $99,360 | $138,000 | $195,960 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $99,029 | $137,540 | $195,307 |
| Texas | 40 | $98,540 | $136,862 | $194,343 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $98,367 | $136,620 | $194,001 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $97,870 | $135,930 | $193,021 |
| Georgia | 6 | $97,538 | $135,470 | $192,367 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $97,373 | $135,240 | $192,041 |
| Kansas | 4 | $96,876 | $134,550 | $191,061 |
| Michigan | 6 | $96,545 | $134,090 | $190,408 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $95,386 | $132,480 | $188,122 |
| Maryland | 1 | $95,386 | $132,480 | $188,122 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $94,392 | $131,100 | $186,162 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $94,392 | $131,100 | $186,162 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $91,908 | $127,650 | $181,263 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $91,411 | $126,960 | $180,283 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $90,169 | $125,235 | $177,834 |
| Missouri | 4 | $90,169 | $125,235 | $177,834 |
| Alabama | 5 | $89,821 | $124,752 | $177,148 |
| Indiana | 3 | $88,430 | $122,820 | $174,404 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $88,430 | $122,820 | $174,404 |
| Iowa | 2 | $87,437 | $121,440 | $172,445 |
| Ohio | 6 | $87,271 | $121,210 | $172,118 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $83,462 | $115,920 | $164,606 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Air Traffic Controller median of $193,856 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($187,335) and Hawaii ($186,300). Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $115,920 and $121,440. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($292,560 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $138,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $292,560 | 212 | $138,000 | $158,498 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $273,240 | 198 | $138,000 | $149,987 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $253,920 | 184 | $138,000 | $141,477 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $249,780 | 181 | $138,000 | $139,653 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $245,640 | 178 | $138,000 | $137,830 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $244,260 | 177 | $138,000 | $137,222 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $244,260 | 177 | $138,000 | $137,222 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $238,740 | 173 | $138,000 | $134,641 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $238,740 | 173 | $138,000 | $134,641 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $233,220 | 169 | $138,000 | $132,044 |
From a career planning perspective, Air Traffic Controller offers a $112,432 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires FAA training program. Day-to-day, expect tower shift-based work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Air Traffic Controllers is $160,617 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $115,644, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $228,076.
The highest-paying city for Air Traffic Controllers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $292,560. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($292,560), Santa Clara ($273,240), Irvine ($253,920). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Air Traffic Controller salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $114,540. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Air Traffic Controllers (10th percentile) average $115,644 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $210,643. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Air Traffic Controllers average $228,076 nationally — $112,432 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Air Traffic Controllers can earn up to $415,435.
The top-paying states for Air Traffic Controllers are California ($193,856 median), Massachusetts ($187,335 median), Hawaii ($186,300 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Air Traffic Controller involves FAA training program. The field is in the Transportation & Logistics sector (Transportation), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically tower shift-based.
With a national median of $160,617 and representation across 288 metro areas, Air Traffic Controller offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $112,432 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.