Highest Paying States for Air Traffic Controllers (2026): Where ATCs Earn the Most
The highest paying state for air traffic controllers is New York at $208,966 average median salary in 2026, based on BLS OEWS data across 52 states and 1661+ metro areas. ATC pay varies from Mississippi ($113,720) to New York ($208,966) — driven by facility level (Center vs Tower vs TRACON), locality pay, CIC / TMC specialty, and federal pension.
Best States for Air Traffic Controller Salary: 2026 Rankings
Air traffic controller pay variance is driven by FAA facility level (Center/ARTCC vs Tower vs TRACON), locality pay (NYC, SF, LA, Seattle, Boston all carry 30%+ locality), CIC / TMC / OSC specialty designations, overtime + holiday pay, federal pension. New York leads at $208,966, Mississippi sits at $113,720.
Top-Tier States (High Facility Concentration)
- New York ($165,000-$220,000) — ZNY New York Center + JFK / EWR / LGA Towers + N90 TRACON. Premier locality.
- California ($150,000-$200,000) — ZLA LA Center + ZOA Oakland Center + LAX/SFO/SAN Towers + SoCal TRACON.
- Illinois ($145,000-$195,000) — ZAU Chicago Center + ORD Tower + C90 TRACON.
- Washington ($140,000-$190,000) — ZSE Seattle Center + SEA Tower + no state income tax.
- Massachusetts ($138,000-$188,000) — ZBW Boston Center + BOS Tower.
- Virginia / DC ($135,000-$185,000) — ZDC Washington Center + Potomac TRACON + IAD/DCA Towers.
Mid-Tier Markets
- Texas ($125,000-$175,000) — ZFW Fort Worth Center + ZHU Houston Center + DFW/IAH Towers + no state income tax.
- Florida ($115,000-$165,000) — ZMA Miami Center + ZJX Jacksonville Center + MIA/MCO/TPA Towers + no state income tax.
- Georgia ($110,000-$155,000) — ZTL Atlanta Center + ATL Tower (busiest tower in world).
- Ohio ($105,000-$148,000) — ZOB Cleveland Center.
- Indiana ($102,000-$145,000) — ZID Indianapolis Center.
- Tennessee ($100,000-$142,000) — ZME Memphis Center.
Specialty Premium Markets
- Top facility CPC (ZNY, ZBW, ZSE, ZLA, ZAU, ZTL) — premier $180,000-$220,000+.
- Top metro tower (JFK, EWR, LGA, LAX, SFO, ORD, ATL, BOS, IAD, DCA, MIA) — premium.
- Top TRACON (N90, A80, SoCal, Potomac, C90) — premier approach control.
- CIC (Controller-in-Charge) — premium supervisory.
- TMC (Traffic Management Coordinator) — premium specialty.
- OSC (Operations Supervisor) — supervisor track.
- FAA ATM (Air Traffic Manager) — admin track.
- Capitol Hill / congressional reporter — niche federal.
2026 State Ranking Methodology
Rankings reflect 2026 projected median from BLS OEWS 2025. Facility level + locality pay + CIC / TMC / OSC + overtime materially shift ceiling. CPC at top facility with 30%+ locality reaches $200K+ base.
2019 BLS
$122,990
2025 BLS
$148,080
2026 Current Est.
$151,886
2019–2027 Growth
+26.7%
National Average for Context
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 2.57% projection.
| Year | Median Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $122,990 | Actual |
| 2020 | $130,420 | Actual |
| 2021 | $129,750 | Actual |
| 2022 | $132,250 | Actual |
| 2023 | $137,380 | Actual |
| 2024 | $144,580 | Actual |
| 2025 | $148,080 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $151,886 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $155,789 | Projected |
Understanding the national salary trend helps contextualize state-level differences. The national median provides a baseline for comparing how each state's air traffic controller pay stacks up.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 2.57% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 10 Highest Paying States for Air Traffic Controllers
What Drives State-Level Air Traffic Controller Pay Differences
Five primary factors explain ATC state-level pay variance.
1. FAA Locality Pay (25-35%)
- NYC / SF / LA / DC / Seattle / Boston (30%+ locality) — premier.
- Chicago / Houston / Atlanta (15-25% locality) — premium.
- Mid-tier locality (10-15%) — base.
- Rest of US locality (10%) — minimum.
- Federal pay tables (GS scale + locality) — formula-driven.
2. Facility Level (Center vs Tower vs TRACON) (25-35%)
- Top Center (ZNY, ZBW, ZSE, ZLA, ZAU, ZTL) — premier.
- Top metro tower (JFK, LAX, ORD, ATL) — premium.
- Top TRACON (N90, A80, SoCal, Potomac) — premier approach.
- Mid-tier facility (Level 8-10) — base.
- Low-tier facility (Level 4-7) — lowest.
- Combined tower / TRACON — premium dual-cert.
3. State Income Tax (5-10% take-home)
- No state income tax — AK, WA, TX, FL, TN, NV, SD, WY, NH. Substantial on $150K+ federal pay.
- High state income tax — CA, NY, OR, NJ, MN, HI.
- NYC + Philadelphia local — additional.
- Federal pension + state tax exemption (some states) — premium retirement.
4. CIC / TMC / OSC Specialty (10-15%)
- CPC (Certified Professional Controller) — full performance level.
- CIC (Controller-in-Charge) — premium supervisory.
- TMC (Traffic Management Coordinator) — premium specialty.
- OSC (Operations Supervisor) — supervisor.
- OJT instructor / training — premium differential.
- Sector / position certifications — adds pay band.
5. Overtime + Holiday Pay (5-10%)
- Mandatory overtime (shortage staffing) — major supplemental.
- Holiday pay (1.5x or 2x) — federal premium.
- Sunday pay (1.25x) — federal standard.
- Shift differential (mid / mid-shift) — premium.
- Open time pickup — premium.
Where Do Air Traffic Controllers Get Paid the Most?
Complete ranking of all 52 states by average air traffic controller salary. Click any state to see city-level breakdowns and detailed data.
| Rank | State | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $208,966 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $181,668 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $179,364 |
| 4 | California | $175,961 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $175,721 |
| 6 | Georgia | $173,283 |
| 7 | Illinois | $172,805 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $171,617 |
| 9 | Washington | $170,777 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $170,538 |
| 11 | Colorado | $166,482 |
| 12 | Oregon | $165,495 |
| 13 | Texas | $161,672 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $161,372 |
| 15 | Florida | $160,417 |
| 16 | Maryland | $159,626 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $158,740 |
| 18 | Delaware | $158,155 |
| 19 | Arizona | $157,874 |
| 20 | Indiana | $157,600 |
| 21 | Nevada | $156,483 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $156,155 |
| 23 | Utah | $155,158 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $152,072 |
| 25 | Alaska | $151,991 |
| 26 | Michigan | $151,962 |
| 27 | Idaho | $151,348 |
| 28 | Montana | $150,967 |
| 29 | Missouri | $149,267 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $144,867 |
| 31 | Virginia | $144,851 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $142,847 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $141,422 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $141,352 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $140,764 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $139,138 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $137,928 |
| 38 | Ohio | $137,814 |
| 39 | Kansas | $136,608 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $135,970 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $135,602 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $134,544 |
| 43 | Maine | $134,229 |
| 44 | Iowa | $130,860 |
| 45 | Vermont | $130,456 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $129,980 |
| 47 | Puerto Rico | $129,013 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $128,671 |
| 49 | Alabama | $127,897 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $125,585 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $119,252 |
| 52 | Mississippi | $113,720 |
Lowest Paying States for Air Traffic Controllers
Even the lowest-paying states offer air traffic controller salaries well above the national average for all occupations. Here are the 5 lowest-paying states:
Top Earner Potential by State
The 90th percentile represents what experienced, highly-skilled air traffic controllers earn in each state. These are the 10 states with the highest earning ceilings:
| # | State | Top Earner (P90) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $312,030 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $264,903 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $257,020 |
| 4 | California | $249,967 |
| 5 | Colorado | $249,081 |
| 6 | Oregon | $244,104 |
| 7 | Washington | $233,033 |
| 8 | Maryland | $232,678 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $232,575 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $231,480 |
How to Move to a Higher-Paying State for Air Traffic Controller Work
Relocating for ATC pay requires balancing federal pay scale + locality, facility level, CIC / TMC / OSC progression, state tax, COL, and overtime / holiday.
1. Pursue FAA Hiring + Academy
- FAA USA Jobs ATC announcement — bid when announced.
- AT-SAT cognitive assessment — strong score required.
- CTI (Collegiate Training Initiative) program — preferred pathway.
- Veteran preference (military ATC) — strong preference.
- Age cap 30 (strict, veterans exempt) — verify.
- FAA Academy Oklahoma City (12-16 weeks) — initial training.
- Facility selection — verify after academy.
- Class III medical certificate — required.
2. Calculate Real Take-Home, Not Nominal
- COL-adjusted income — Texas ATC at $140,000 may exceed California ATC at $180,000 net.
- Federal pay table (GS + locality) — formula-driven.
- State + local income tax — effective rate.
- Property + sales tax — TX tradeoff.
- Childcare cost spread — major.
- Federal pension (FERS Special) — premier long-term.
- Retiree healthcare — premier value.
- Overtime + holiday pay — major supplemental.
3. Target Top-Tier Facility + Locality
- ZNY New York Center (premier locality + scale) — top.
- ZBW Boston Center / ZSE Seattle / ZLA LA Center — premier.
- Top metro tower (JFK, LAX, ORD, ATL, BOS, IAD, DCA, MIA, SFO) — premium.
- Top TRACON (N90, A80, SoCal, Potomac, C90) — premier approach.
- Combined tower / TRACON — premium dual-cert.
- No state income tax + high locality (Seattle, Houston, DFW) — premium net.
- Federal pension premium — long-term wealth.
4. Negotiate CIC / TMC / OSC + Overtime
- CPC certification (full performance) — major bump after development.
- CIC (Controller-in-Charge) — premium supervisory.
- TMC (Traffic Management Coordinator) — premium specialty.
- OSC (Operations Supervisor) — supervisor track.
- OJT instructor / training role — premium differential.
- Mandatory overtime (shortage staffing) — major supplemental.
- Holiday pay + Sunday pay + shift differential — premium.
- Sign-on incentive (shortage facilities) — sometimes offered.
5. Choose Path Based on Career Plan
- Top Center CPC (premier scale + locality) — top pay.
- Top Tower / TRACON CPC — premium.
- CIC / TMC / OSC specialty — premium.
- Frontline Manager / FAA ATM / Operations Manager — admin track.
- FAA Aviation Safety Inspector pivot — alternative.
- Mandatory retirement age 56 — federal pension + Social Security supplement.
- Contract tower (post-FAA retirement) — second-career.
- FAA training instructor / academy — alternative.
- Private sector aviation consulting — post-FAA premium.
- FERS Special pension at 25 years — premier retirement.
More Salary Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, ATO
Career Analyst
Jordan has 10 years of experience as an air traffic controller. He specializes in terminal area control at a major airport.
Methodology & Data Source
State salary rankings on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.57% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each state's average salary. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS , released .
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, ATO, a licensed air traffic controller with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov