Air Traffic Controllers
Air Traffic Controllers earn an average annual salary of $156,689, making it one of the higher-paying occupations. While facing some shifts, the field is adapting to changes in the job market. Professionals in this field are primarily employed in industries such as Cross-industry and Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S.
Key Statistics
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Air Traffic Controllers workforce.
Employment Over Time
2,260 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.
Metropolitan employment on this page is from the California OEWS extract. Area names omit state codes; all listed metros are in California, so the state chart shows California totals (not a multi-state ranking).
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- CA: 1,000 employees, $153,934 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Air Traffic Controllers.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD: 620 employees, $157,689 avg wage
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom MSA: 240 employees, $178,199 avg wage
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: 140 employees, $95,711 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 2,260 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 2,260 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.