Experience
Industry
The estimated total pay for a Air Traffic Controller is $85,583 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $79,446 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $6,137 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $64K-$115K/yr?
For an Air Traffic Controller in United States
Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for an Air Traffic Controller in United States. Employers include FAA, U.S. Department of Transportation and Robinson Aviation.
For Air Traffic Controller in United States
1 | FAA | $104,650 | |
2 | U.S. Department of Transportation | $96,556 | |
3 | Robinson Aviation | $94,404 | |
4 | DOD | $92,887 | |
5 | United States Federal Government | $91,243 | |
6 | US Air Force | $88,577 | |
7 | US Navy | $88,120 | |
8 | US Department of Defense | $86,201 | |
9 | US Marine Corps | $85,789 | |
10 | US Army | $85,592 |
Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere
For an Air Traffic Controller in United States
The top 4 paying industries for an Air Traffic Controller in United States are Transportation & Logistics with a median total pay of $89,674, Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $88,577, Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $86,201 and Human Resources & Staffing with a median total pay of $80,799.
0% Lower than other industries
Top paying companies in Transportation & Logistics for Air Traffic Controller are Robinson Aviation and Midwest ATC.
For air traffic controller
Job Title
Location
Total Pay
Base Pay | Additional Pay
Total Years of Experience
Years at Recent Employer
Submitted
Date or Time
United States of America
| 7-9 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 15+ years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 15+ years
/mo
Submitted 2 days ago
United States of America
| 10-14 years
/yr
Submitted 2 days ago
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/yr
Submitted 2 days ago
United States of America
| 15+ years
/hr
Submitted 2 days ago
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/yr
Submitted 3 days ago
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/yr
Submitted 4 days ago
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/yr
Submitted 4 days ago
The average salary for an Air Traffic Controller is $85,583 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 1414 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an Air Traffic Controller employees in United States.
The highest salary for an Air Traffic Controller in United States is $114,998 per year.
The lowest salary for an Air Traffic Controller in United States is $64,187 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming an Air Traffic Controller or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of an Air Traffic Controller.
Air traffic controllers earn pay similar to airline pilots. They are typically required to be a United States (US) Citizen, pass a medical evaluation and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pre-employment test, complete a training course through the FAA academy and take a biographic assessment regarding personality. Additionally, an associate’s degree or a bachelors’ degree is generally required. These requirements result in relatively high pay.
Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research
Approximately 80% of employees are satisfied with their salary as an air traffic controller, according to Glassdoor data. In addition to base salary, controllers may earn an additional $6,136.86 per year, as well as benefits such as employer-paid training, medical insurance, and retirement plans.
According to Glassdoor data, the average air traffic controller salary is $79,445.77. New air traffic controllers usually start at the low end of the pay range, earning around $49,637.93. Pay increases should occur every few years as experience is gained, and additional increases may also occur if a master's degree or FAA Academy certification is completed. The maximum air traffic controller salary is around $149,612.39.
If you are already employed as an air traffic controller, you can take steps to improve your chances of earning more pay. As you gain more experience in the tower, you should move up within the air traffic controller career path, getting promoted from radar controller to arrival controller to supervisor. Education is also critical, and earning higher college degrees and certifications from the FAA Academy is advantageous. Your geographic location can make a big difference as the busiest airports in the country often pay the highest. Finally, overtime pay can be lucrative for air traffic controllers, with larger airports having the most extra hours available.
If you are starting your career as an air traffic controller, you may be able to demand a higher salary offer by understanding the job requirements and doing well in your job interview.
For those already in an air traffic controller role, perform an air traffic controller job search to review the job descriptions of your desired future position, and then be prepared to argue why you meet or exceed those requirements. Highlight any leadership tasks performed. Also, be prepared to talk about your performance metrics and safety record. If you are a top performer on the team, tell your employers exactly how much value you add.