SOC 53-2021 · Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Air Traffic Controllers wages by metro
National median annual wage
$148,080
- 10th percentile
- $78,420
- 25th percentile
- $104,520
- Median
- $148,080
- 75th percentile
- $190,570
- 90th percentile
- $215,610
- Mean
- $146,490
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 22,510.
That median is 190.5% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 220 | $94,310 | $198,590 | $225,680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 240 | $80,810 | $196,290 | $225,680 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 430 | $102,170 | $193,360 | $225,680 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 850 | $89,690 | $189,780 | $225,680 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 810 | $111,160 | $186,640 | $217,590 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 800 | $97,040 | $186,510 | $223,700 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 620 | $99,230 | $179,670 | $222,000 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 180 | $100,210 | $178,310 | $214,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 510 | $96,640 | $175,280 | $215,840 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,800 | $47,760 | $174,870 | $225,680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 690 | $63,520 | $173,020 | $225,680 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 470 | $104,780 | $171,910 | $204,210 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 450 | $90,910 | $170,120 | $195,960 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 720 | $90,260 | $162,140 | $205,230 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 430 | $85,800 | $161,700 | $199,160 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 330 | $76,560 | $161,640 | $191,670 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 220 | $94,620 | $161,220 | $204,980 |
| Anchorage, AK | 280 | $86,570 | $160,970 | $213,530 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 60 | $102,090 | $155,540 | $177,150 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 170 | $96,030 | $155,500 | $200,160 |
Where employment is largest
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,800 | $47,760 | $174,870 | $225,680 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,010 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 850 | $89,690 | $189,780 | $225,680 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 810 | $111,160 | $186,640 | $217,590 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 800 | $97,040 | $186,510 | $223,700 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 720 | $90,260 | $162,140 | $205,230 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 690 | $63,520 | $173,020 | $225,680 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 620 | $99,230 | $179,670 | $222,000 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 510 | $96,640 | $175,280 | $215,840 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 470 | $104,780 | $171,910 | $204,210 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 450 | $90,910 | $170,120 | $195,960 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 430 | $85,800 | $161,700 | $199,160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 430 | $102,170 | $193,360 | $225,680 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 330 | $76,560 | $161,640 | $191,670 |
| Anchorage, AK | 280 | $86,570 | $160,970 | $213,530 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 240 | $80,810 | $196,290 | $225,680 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 220 | $94,310 | $198,590 | $225,680 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 220 | $94,620 | $161,220 | $204,980 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 180 | $100,210 | $178,310 | $214,340 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 170 | $96,030 | $155,500 | $200,160 |
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 1,120 | $94,330 | $191,820 | $225,680 |
| Illinois | 990 | $83,990 | $181,560 | $225,680 |
| Georgia | 970 | $90,940 | $178,420 | $217,590 |
| Colorado | 740 | $76,310 | $177,380 | $213,950 |
| Minnesota | 680 | $88,940 | $176,840 | $218,190 |
| Texas | 2,060 | $90,420 | $170,080 | $222,230 |
| Washington | 620 | $91,600 | $162,570 | $209,270 |
| California | 2,290 | $80,960 | $160,080 | $225,680 |
| Kansas | 430 | $82,060 | $159,700 | $199,160 |
| Indiana | 630 | $81,000 | $158,810 | $200,640 |
| Hawaii | 210 | $92,580 | $158,700 | $205,000 |
| Utah | 360 | $75,360 | $158,310 | $186,180 |
| Tennessee | 590 | $98,300 | $157,330 | $198,790 |
| New Mexico | 350 | $77,400 | $148,550 | $187,790 |
| Florida | 1,950 | $86,660 | $147,530 | $195,960 |
| New York | 1,150 | $74,320 | $144,960 | $225,680 |
| Connecticut | Not available | $95,180 | $140,940 | $175,090 |
| Nevada | 210 | $80,600 | $140,920 | $200,160 |
| Arizona | 380 | $86,630 | $136,800 | $195,980 |
| Pennsylvania | 460 | $81,490 | $132,350 | $225,680 |
| New Jersey | 190 | $88,460 | $132,230 | $209,730 |
| Maryland | 70 | $96,600 | $131,290 | $169,920 |
| North Carolina | 410 | $88,690 | $129,230 | $191,530 |
| Kentucky | 230 | $66,150 | $127,800 | $168,650 |
| Rhode Island | 50 | $61,710 | $126,300 | $150,180 |
| Puerto Rico | 110 | $73,130 | $125,780 | $172,680 |
| Massachusetts | 120 | $82,150 | $125,060 | $202,070 |
| Alaska | 490 | $66,800 | $123,950 | $191,690 |
| Oklahoma | 270 | $78,340 | $123,220 | $169,980 |
| Missouri | 260 | $90,940 | $122,200 | $166,610 |
| Michigan | 360 | $80,430 | $118,930 | $205,380 |
| Alabama | 240 | $79,420 | $114,960 | $159,640 |
| South Carolina | 190 | $71,680 | $112,030 | $142,830 |
| Nebraska | 70 | $83,030 | $111,710 | $147,990 |
| Arkansas | 80 | $76,360 | $109,760 | $134,430 |
| Vermont | 30 | $90,500 | $109,140 | $139,810 |
| North Dakota | 100 | $58,470 | $107,990 | $147,410 |
| Maine | 70 | $46,550 | $107,270 | $135,910 |
| Montana | 60 | $75,130 | $101,380 | $127,980 |
| Louisiana | 230 | $75,130 | $99,810 | $149,700 |
| Wyoming | 40 | $75,130 | $93,580 | $132,000 |
| Iowa | 120 | $54,930 | $90,790 | $121,720 |
| Mississippi | 160 | $64,380 | $88,110 | $127,170 |
| Guam | 40 | $50,580 | $82,830 | $156,270 |
| District of Columbia | 820 | $47,760 | $47,760 | $196,310 |
Other transportation and material moving occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
- Stockers and Order Fillers
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- Light Truck Drivers
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
- Packers and Packagers, Hand
- Driver/Sales Workers
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Air Traffic Controllers?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers is $148,080. Employment is 22,510.
How does Air Traffic Controllers pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Air Traffic Controllers is 190.5% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Air Traffic Controllers?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is highest on this page's list at $198,590.