Air Traffic Controllers Salary: $156,689 Median Pay (2026 stats)
TL;DR
About 22,400 air traffic controllers nationally earn a mean of $156,689. Employment in the series shown fell about 9% from the first to the last year; projections imply about 1.1% annual growth.
Key Statistics
Air Traffic Controllers: what the data shows
Common questions about air traffic controllers careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a air traffic controllers?
Air Traffic Controllers is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 53-2021.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 22,400 workers.
What does a air traffic controllers do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Getting Information, Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Processing Information, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a air traffic controllers make?
BLS national median annual wage: $144,580 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $156,689 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $85,602 |
| 25th percentile | $113,924 |
| Median (50th) | $155,705 |
| 75th percentile | $206,193 |
| 90th percentile | $227,284 |
What education do you need?
For Air Traffic Controllers, O*NET incumbent surveys in our extract most often report: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
These are education levels of current workers, not minimum legal requirements.
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, and knowledge areas including Transportation, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is air traffic controllers in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 1.1% annual growth (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: 5.6%.
Ten-year projected employment change: 11.5%.
Current U.S. headcount: 22,400.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do air traffic controllerss work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 22,400 | 17.1% |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | 20,230 | 15.4% |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | 20,230 | 15.4% |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | 20,230 | 15.4% |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | 20,130 | 15.3% |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 20,130 | 15.3% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Air Traffic Controllers in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks | 127,440 | $41,460 |
| Transportation Inspectors | 23,320 | $85,750 |
| Transportation Security Screeners | 46,340 | $63,360 |
| Traffic Technicians | 7,580 | $58,480 |
| Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | 7,310 | $82,730 |
| Pest Control Workers | 96,110 | $44,730 |
| Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 46,920 | $74,690 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Air Traffic Controllers workforce.
Employment Over Time
22,400 Workforce in 2023
The Air Traffic Controllers workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Air Traffic Controllers.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$156,689 Average Wage
In 2023, Air Traffic Controllers earned an average of $156,689.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Air Traffic Controllers.
Salary distribution for Air Traffic Controllers.
Employment Growth Projections
1.1% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
6,883 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: 5.6%
7,267 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: 11.5%
This occupation is projected to grow at 1.1% annually, indicating strong future demand.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Air Traffic Controllers.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Air Traffic Controllers and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Air Traffic Controllers employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Air Traffic Controllers.
Wage Trends by Industry
5.9% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Total, All Industry: -13.2% growth (Current: $178,199)
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Air Traffic Controllers.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Air Traffic Controllers.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- CA: 2,260 employees, $152,970 avg wage
- TX: 2,020 employees, $155,660 avg wage
- FL: 1,980 employees, $139,910 avg wage
- NY: 1,190 employees, $151,270 avg wage
- VA: 1,130 employees, $171,440 avg wage
- IL: 1,000 employees, $156,590 avg wage
- GA: 970 employees, $157,770 avg wage
- CO: 780 employees, $153,010 avg wage
- DC: 700 employees, $77,660 avg wage
- MN: 630 employees, $164,870 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Air Traffic Controllers.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: 1,690 employees, $137,910 avg wage
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 1,090 employees, $162,160 avg wage
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 840 employees, $168,380 avg wage
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA: 820 employees, $169,010 avg wage
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 780 employees, $172,250 avg wage
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL: 710 employees, $151,450 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 670 employees, $152,740 avg wage
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 600 employees, N/A avg wage
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI: 580 employees, $170,730 avg wage
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: 500 employees, $157,810 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Air Traffic Controllers.
Diversity
Demographic information on Air Traffic Controllers in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Air Traffic Controllers in 2023 was 22,400 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Air Traffic Controllers.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Air Traffic Controllers.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Air Traffic Controllers.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Air Traffic Controllers in 2023 were Business, Social Sciences, General Studies.
Common majors for Air Traffic Controllers.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Air Traffic Controllers workers.
Education level distribution for Air Traffic Controllers.
Skills
Air Traffic Controllers need many skills, but most especially Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring.
Required skills for Air Traffic Controllers.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Air Traffic Controllers.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Air Traffic Controllers include Transportation, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service.
Knowledge areas required for Air Traffic Controllers.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Air Traffic Controllers include Problem Sensitivity, Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression, Selective Attention, Deductive Reasoning.
Required abilities for Air Traffic Controllers.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Air Traffic Controllers.
Daily Activities
Air Traffic Controllers spend their time on activities such as Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Getting Information, Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates.
Most important work activities for Air Traffic Controllers.
About
Air Traffic Controllers
The average yearly wage for Air Traffic Controllers was $156,689 in 2023.
SOC Code
53-2021 - Air Traffic Controllers
Insights and Analysis
High earnings profile: Air Traffic Controllers reports an average salary of $156,689, placing it among stronger-paying occupations.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 22,400 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual growth is 1.1%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.