Air Traffic Controllers Salary
BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 43 reporting states. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median air traffic controllers in the US earns $148,080 per year (22,510 employed). Gross pay is highest in Virginia ($191,820) and lowest in Washington DC ($47,760) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.
Air Traffic Controllers pay by stategross median vs take-home
| State | Median wage | After taxes | Monthly net | Kept | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Traffic Controllers in Virginia | $191,820 | $132,613 | $11,051 | 69.1% | 1,120 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Illinois | $181,560 | $126,520 | $10,543 | 69.7% | 990 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Georgia | $178,420 | $124,579 | $10,382 | 69.8% | 970 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado | $177,380 | $125,409 | $10,451 | 70.7% | 740 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Minnesota | $176,840 | $121,087 | $10,091 | 68.5% | 680 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Texas | $170,080 | $127,516 | $10,626 | 75% | 2,060 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Washington | $162,570 | $122,383 | $10,199 | 75.3% | 620 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in California | $160,080 | $110,023 | $9,169 | 68.7% | 2,290 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Kansas | $159,700 | $112,310 | $9,359 | 70.3% | 430 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Indiana | $158,810 | $115,157 | $9,596 | 72.5% | 630 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Hawaii | $158,700 | $109,122 | $9,094 | 68.8% | 210 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Utah | $158,310 | $112,347 | $9,362 | 71% | 360 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Tennessee | $157,330 | $118,801 | $9,900 | 75.5% | 590 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in New Mexico | $148,550 | $106,852 | $8,904 | 71.9% | 350 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Florida | $147,530 | $112,103 | $9,342 | 76% | 1,950 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in New York | $144,960 | $102,834 | $8,569 | 70.9% | 1,150 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Connecticut | $140,940 | $101,292 | $8,441 | 71.9% | — |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Nevada | $140,920 | $107,585 | $8,965 | 76.3% | 210 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Arizona | $136,800 | $101,558 | $8,463 | 74.2% | 380 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Pennsylvania | $132,350 | $97,664 | $8,139 | 73.8% | 460 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in New Jersey | $132,230 | $95,410 | $7,951 | 72.2% | 190 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Maryland | $131,290 | $95,068 | $7,922 | 72.4% | 70 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina | $129,230 | $94,947 | $7,912 | 73.5% | 410 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Kentucky | $127,800 | $94,262 | $7,855 | 73.8% | 230 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Rhode Island | $126,300 | $93,195 | $7,766 | 73.8% | 50 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Massachusetts | $125,060 | $90,712 | $7,559 | 72.5% | 120 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Alaska | $123,950 | $95,986 | $7,999 | 77.4% | 490 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Oklahoma | $123,220 | $90,488 | $7,541 | 73.4% | 270 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Missouri | $122,200 | $89,984 | $7,499 | 73.6% | 260 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Michigan | $118,930 | $87,694 | $7,308 | 73.7% | 360 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Alabama | $114,960 | $84,221 | $7,018 | 73.3% | 240 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in South Carolina | $112,030 | $82,079 | $6,840 | 73.3% | 190 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Nebraska | $111,710 | $83,215 | $6,935 | 74.5% | 70 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Arkansas | $109,760 | $81,978 | $6,832 | 74.7% | 80 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Vermont | $109,140 | $80,867 | $6,739 | 74.1% | 30 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in North Dakota | $107,990 | $83,954 | $6,996 | 77.7% | 100 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Maine | $107,270 | $78,120 | $6,510 | 72.8% | 70 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Montana | $101,380 | $75,784 | $6,315 | 74.8% | 60 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Louisiana | $99,810 | $76,438 | $6,370 | 76.6% | 230 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Wyoming | $93,580 | $74,664 | $6,222 | 79.8% | 40 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Iowa | $90,790 | $69,903 | $5,825 | 77% | 120 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Mississippi | $88,110 | $68,023 | $5,669 | 77.2% | 160 |
| Air Traffic Controllers in Washington DC | $47,760 | $38,856 | $3,238 | 81.4% | 820 |
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