Air Traffic Controller Salary Calculator
Median air traffic controller pay is $148,080 a year. See pay by state and calculate your take-home pay after federal tax, state tax and FICA.
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About the Air Traffic Controller Salary Calculator
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), the median air traffic controller salary is $148,080 a year (about $71.19 an hour). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $78,420 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $215,610. The mean annual wage is $146,490 and about 22,510 people work in this occupation.
How to use it
- Leave the annual salary at the national median or type your own pay.
- Choose your state and filing status and add any 401(k) contribution.
- Press Calculate take-home pay to see your air traffic controller pay per year, month, paycheck and hour.
Air Traffic Controller salary by state (2026)
Virginia pays air traffic controllers the most, with an average of $175,740 a year, and Iowa pays the least at $91,670. State averages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, May 2025). The monthly take-home column is an estimate for a single filer using the 2026 federal standard deduction, Social Security, Medicare and each state's 2026 income tax brackets.
Highest-paying states: Virginia ($175,740), Georgia ($164,700), Illinois ($164,200), Minnesota ($162,920), Colorado ($158,790).
Lowest-paying states: Iowa ($91,670), Maine ($93,400), Mississippi ($93,850), District of Columbia ($96,410), Wyoming ($97,300).
| State | Average annual salary | Est. take-home / month |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $175,740 | $10,174 |
| Georgia | $164,700 | $9,659 |
| Illinois | $164,200 | $9,626 |
| Minnesota | $162,920 | $9,389 |
| Colorado | $158,790 | $9,460 |
| California | $156,910 | $9,013 |
| Texas | $156,370 | $9,845 |
| New York | $154,660 | $9,074 |
| Washington | $154,320 | $9,729 |
| Hawaii | $151,040 | $8,708 |
| Kansas | $149,440 | $8,822 |
| Tennessee | $149,020 | $9,427 |
| Utah | $147,710 | $8,879 |
| Indiana | $145,010 | $8,844 |
| Florida | $144,140 | $9,149 |
| Nevada | $143,990 | $9,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $143,180 | $8,728 |
| Connecticut | $141,920 | $8,492 |
| Arizona | $140,340 | $8,657 |
| New Mexico | $140,280 | $8,467 |
| New Jersey | $139,660 | $8,335 |
| North Carolina | $136,490 | $8,302 |
| Maryland | $136,220 | $8,182 |
| Michigan | $134,670 | $8,153 |
| Massachusetts | $132,750 | $7,965 |
| Alaska | $130,420 | $8,367 |
| Missouri | $125,950 | $7,698 |
| Oklahoma | $125,280 | $7,650 |
| Kentucky | $121,910 | $7,537 |
| Rhode Island | $120,870 | $7,477 |
| Alabama | $117,540 | $7,159 |
| Nebraska | $113,210 | $7,017 |
| South Carolina | $110,990 | $6,784 |
| Vermont | $109,830 | $6,776 |
| Arkansas | $108,570 | $6,766 |
| North Dakota | $106,930 | $6,936 |
| Louisiana | $106,280 | $6,733 |
| Montana | $98,700 | $6,171 |
| Wyoming | $97,300 | $6,440 |
| District of Columbia | $96,410 | $6,388 |
| Mississippi | $93,850 | $5,986 |
| Maine | $93,400 | $5,780 |
| Iowa | $91,670 | $5,874 |
Click a state to see a full paycheck breakdown. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Air Traffic Controller pay and take-home by percentile (no state income tax)
| Level | Gross a year | Per hour | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% (cut-off) | $78,420 | $37.70 | $5,333 |
| Median | $148,080 | $71.19 | $9,373 |
| Highest 10% (cut-off) | $215,610 | $103.66 | $13,369 |
Single filer, 2026 federal standard deduction, Social Security and Medicare. Pay varies by employer, experience, shift differentials and overtime. The median is a national figure, not an offer or a guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
How much do air traffic controllers make a year?
The median pay for air traffic controllers was $148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $78,420 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $215,610.
How much does a air traffic controller take home after taxes?
On the national median of $148,080, a single filer in a state with no income tax keeps about $112,479 a year ($9,373 a month) after federal income tax and FICA. Use the calculator above for your state.
Which state pays air traffic controllers the most?
Virginia has the highest average pay for air traffic controllers, about $175,740 a year, followed by Georgia ($164,700) and Illinois ($164,200), according to BLS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly pay for air traffic controllers?
The median is about $71.19 an hour, based on 2,080 working hours a year. The mean wage across the country is $146,490 a year.
What is the lowest-paying state for air traffic controllers?
Iowa has the lowest average pay at about $91,670 a year. Pay depends on cost of living, employer, experience and demand.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Estimates only, not tax or financial advice.