BLS air traffic controller pay at every level and by state, shift rules, early retirement and take-home after 2026 tax
Air traffic controllers earned a median salary of $148,080 in May 2025 ($71.19 an hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' count of 22,510. The bottom tenth earned under $78,420 and the top tenth over $215,610; new hires spend more than a year as developmental controllers before they are fully certified (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). Overtime and night and holiday premiums come on top.
This is the BLS line for air traffic controllers (SOC 53-2021), mostly federal employees, plus the small number working for private air-transportation support companies. BLS releases state figures only where enough controllers work to publish them. Take-home assumes a single filer with 2026 federal tax and FICA and no state tax.
| Pay level | Hourly | Annual | Monthly | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37.70 | $78,420 | $6,535 | $63,998 |
| 25th percentile | $50.25 | $104,520 | $8,710 | $82,360 |
| Median | $71.19 | $148,080 | $12,340 | $112,479 |
| 75th percentile | $91.62 | $190,570 | $15,881 | $141,897 |
| 90th percentile | $103.66 | $215,610 | $17,968 | $160,424 |
Virginia ($191,820), Illinois ($181,560) and Georgia ($178,420) have the highest medians; California (2,290 controllers, $160,080) and Texas ($170,080) employ the most. BLS releases figures for 43 states. The District of Columbia's $47,760 is the lowest — far below every state — so check its employment count in the table before reading much into it.
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $92.22 | $191,820 | 1,120 |
| Illinois | $87.29 | $181,560 | 990 |
| Georgia | $85.78 | $178,420 | 970 |
| Colorado | $85.28 | $177,380 | 740 |
| Minnesota | $85.02 | $176,840 | 680 |
| Texas | $81.77 | $170,080 | 2,060 |
| Washington | $78.16 | $162,570 | 620 |
| California | $76.96 | $160,080 | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $76.78 | $159,700 | 430 |
| Indiana | $76.35 | $158,810 | 630 |
| Hawaii | $76.30 | $158,700 | 210 |
| Utah | $76.11 | $158,310 | 360 |
| Tennessee | $75.64 | $157,330 | 590 |
| New Mexico | $71.42 | $148,550 | 350 |
| Florida | $70.93 | $147,530 | 1,950 |
| New York | $69.69 | $144,960 | 1,150 |
| Connecticut | $67.76 | $140,940 | — |
| Nevada | $67.75 | $140,920 | 210 |
| Arizona | $65.77 | $136,800 | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $63.63 | $132,350 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $63.57 | $132,230 | 190 |
| Maryland | $63.12 | $131,290 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $62.13 | $129,230 | 410 |
| Kentucky | $61.44 | $127,800 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $60.72 | $126,300 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $60.13 | $125,060 | 120 |
| Alaska | $59.59 | $123,950 | 490 |
| Oklahoma | $59.24 | $123,220 | 270 |
| Missouri | $58.75 | $122,200 | 260 |
| Michigan | $57.18 | $118,930 | 360 |
| Alabama | $55.27 | $114,960 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $53.86 | $112,030 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $53.71 | $111,710 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $52.77 | $109,760 | 80 |
| Vermont | $52.47 | $109,140 | 30 |
| North Dakota | $51.92 | $107,990 | 100 |
| Maine | $51.57 | $107,270 | 70 |
| Montana | $48.74 | $101,380 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $47.99 | $99,810 | 230 |
| Wyoming | $44.99 | $93,580 | 40 |
| Iowa | $43.65 | $90,790 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $42.36 | $88,110 | 160 |
| District of Columbia | $22.96 | $47,760 | 820 |
The federal government, which employs 92% of controllers, pays a median of $156,250; support companies for air transportation pay $83,890 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
| Industry | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Federal government | $156,250 |
| Support activities for air transportation | $83,890 |
Most controllers work full time, and the FAA regulates their hours: no more than 10 straight hours on a shift, breaks included, and 9 hours of rest before the next. Towers at major airports run around the clock, so controllers there rotate through day, evening and night shifts, weekends and holidays; quieter airports may close overnight and keep standard schedules (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
The federal government employs 92% of air traffic controllers, mostly at the FAA (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook), so their pay, including any overtime, night and holiday premiums, follows federal pay rules rather than a private employer's policy. BLS's figures leave out overtime, shift differentials and holiday premiums (BLS OEWS FAQ), so controllers at busy facilities that work extra shifts earn more than the median below.
Candidates typically need an associate's or bachelor's degree from an FAA-approved Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program, several years of progressively responsible work experience, or a mix. They must be U.S. citizens, pass a medical exam, background check and the FAA's pre-employment tests, apply before the FAA's age cutoff, and complete the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, then over a year of on-the-job training as developmental controllers. Controllers pass a physical every year and a performance exam twice a year, and must retire at 56 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
More ways to work with your air traffic controller pay:
$148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour) at the BLS median for May 2025. The middle half earned $104,520 to $190,570.
Virginia ($92.22 an hour, $191,820 a year), then Illinois and Georgia; District of Columbia pays least among the 43 states where BLS released a figure (BLS, May 2025).
The FAA requires controllers to retire at 56 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook), which is why the retirement savings calculator is linked here: a career is often shorter than in other jobs.
Yes. Controllers who learned the job in the military are eligible to become civilian controllers even if they are past the FAA's age cutoff for other applicants (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Tax rules, limits and pay data change. Check the current figures with the primary source before acting on them.