Air Traffic Controller Hourly Pay (2026): How Much Do FAA-Certified ATCs Make Per Hour?
The median air traffic controller hourly pay is $73.02 per hour in 2026, equivalent to $151,886 annually. ATC hourly rates at Level 12 facilities with FAA locality pay reach $102.39+ in New York, NY, with top CPCs at JFK / N90 / ATL / ATL TRACON / ORD / DFW / LAX earning $180,000–$240,000+ base before overtime.
2019 BLS
$59.13/hr
2025 BLS
$71.19/hr
2026 Current Est.
$73.02/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+26.7%
National Air Traffic Controller Hourly Rate Trend
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 2.57% projection.
| Year | Median Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59.13/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $62.70/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $62.38/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $63.58/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $66.05/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $69.51/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $71.19/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $73.02/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74.90/hr | Projected |
The national median hourly rate for air traffic controllers has grown steadily over the past 7 years of BLS data, reflecting strong demand for aviation services. At the current 2.57% CAGR, hourly rates are projected to continue rising through 2027.
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.
Air Traffic Controller Salary Per Hour by State
Hourly rates for air traffic controllers vary widely by state. Western and Northeastern states consistently top the rankings, while Southeastern states tend to fall below the national median of $73.02/hour.
| # | State | Avg Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $100.46 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $87.34 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $86.23 |
| 4 | California | $84.60 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $84.48 |
| 6 | Georgia | $83.31 |
| 7 | Illinois | $83.08 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $82.51 |
| 9 | Washington | $82.10 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $81.99 |
| 11 | Colorado | $80.04 |
| 12 | Oregon | $79.57 |
| 13 | Texas | $77.73 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $77.58 |
| 15 | Florida | $77.12 |
| 16 | Maryland | $76.74 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $76.32 |
| 18 | Delaware | $76.04 |
| 19 | Arizona | $75.90 |
| 20 | Indiana | $75.77 |
| 21 | Nevada | $75.23 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $75.07 |
| 23 | Utah | $74.59 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $73.11 |
| 25 | Alaska | $73.07 |
| 26 | Michigan | $73.06 |
| 27 | Idaho | $72.76 |
| 28 | Montana | $72.58 |
| 29 | Missouri | $71.76 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $69.65 |
| 31 | Virginia | $69.64 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $68.68 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $67.99 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $67.96 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $67.67 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $66.89 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $66.31 |
| 38 | Ohio | $66.26 |
| 39 | Kansas | $65.68 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $65.37 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $65.19 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $64.68 |
| 43 | Maine | $64.53 |
| 44 | Iowa | $62.91 |
| 45 | Vermont | $62.72 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $62.49 |
| 47 | Puerto Rico | $62.02 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $61.86 |
| 49 | Alabama | $61.49 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $60.38 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $57.33 |
| 52 | Mississippi | $54.67 |
How Much Do Air Traffic Controllers Make Per Hour? Top 20 Cities
These 20 metro areas offer the highest hourly rates for air traffic controllers in the United States. Rates reflect the median hourly wage reported by BLS, or estimated from annual salary data.
| # | City | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $102.39 |
| 2 | Wilmington, DE | $99.61 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $97.93 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $97.52 |
| 5 | Folsom, CA | $97.45 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $96.80 |
| 7 | Roseville, CA | $96.40 |
| 8 | Syracuse, NY | $95.95 |
| 9 | Camden, NJ | $95.60 |
| 10 | Fremont, CA | $95.37 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $95.35 |
| 12 | Yonkers, NY | $95.09 |
| 13 | Naperville, IL | $94.56 |
| 14 | Rochester, NY | $94.22 |
| 15 | Sandy Springs, GA | $93.84 |
| 16 | Buffalo, NY | $93.63 |
| 17 | Troy, NY | $93.60 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $93.58 |
| 19 | New Rochelle, NY | $93.13 |
| 20 | Elgin, IL | $92.75 |
Air Traffic Controller Hourly Rate: Level 12 Facility, ARTCC, TRACON, Tower Pay
Air traffic controller compensation is uniquely structured because nearly all U.S. controllers are FAA employees on a federal pay structure (FAA CPC — Certified Professional Controller scale plus locality adjustments). The variation reflects FAA facility level rating (Level 4 through Level 12), locality pay adjustments by metro area, and the regional distribution of high-volume Level 12 facilities.
Staff ATC hourly equivalent — at $73.02/hour median (annualized from $151,886 at 2,080 hours). Standard W-2 ATC base.
Level 12 facility CPC (top tier) — JFK ATCT, N90 TRACON (NY), ATL ATCT, A80 TRACON (Atlanta), ORD ATCT, C90 TRACON (Chicago), DFW ATCT, D10 TRACON (Dallas/Fort Worth), IAH ATCT, I90 TRACON (Houston), LAX ATCT, SCT TRACON (Southern California), MIA ATCT, EWR ATCT, LGA ATCT, PHL ATCT, DCA ATCT, PCT TRACON, BOS ATCT, SFO ATCT, NCT TRACON (Northern California), SEA ATCT, DEN ATCT, DTW ATCT, MSP ATCT. Senior CPCs $180,000–$240,000+ base + locality pay.
ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) — 22 CONUS + Hawaii + Alaska — Boston (ZBW), NY (ZNY), Washington (ZDC), Atlanta (ZTL), Jacksonville (ZJX), Miami (ZMA), Memphis (ZME), Cleveland (ZOB), Indianapolis (ZID), Chicago (ZAU), Minneapolis (ZMP), Kansas City (ZKC), Fort Worth (ZFW), Houston (ZHU), Albuquerque (ZAB), Denver (ZDV), Salt Lake (ZLC), LA (ZLA), Oakland (ZOA), Seattle (ZSE), Anchorage (ZAN), Honolulu (ZHN).
FAA locality pay (top markets) — San Francisco / San Jose (44%+), New York (39%+), Washington-Baltimore (33%+), Houston (35%+), DFW (29%+), Los Angeles (33%+), Boston (32%+), San Diego (32%+), Honolulu (28%+), Denver (28%+), Chicago (28%+), Philadelphia (28%+), Detroit (28%+), Seattle (29%+), Minneapolis (25%+), Miami (26%+).
OT / CIC pay supplements — Controller-in-Charge (CIC) pay, overtime, premium pay, Sunday differential, night differential.
Front Line Manager (FLM) / Operations Supervisor (OS) — supervisory roles with administrative supplements.
NATCA union representation — National Air Traffic Controllers Association represents nearly all FAA controllers.
FERS Special Category Employee pension — mandatory retirement at 56 (waiver to 61 possible) with favorable pension calculation.
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual (50 wks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days/week (24 hrs) | $1,753 | $7,588 | $87,627 |
| 4 days/week (32 hrs) | $2,337 | $10,118 | $116,835 |
| Full-time (40 hrs) | $2,921 | $12,647 | $146,044 |
* Based on the national median hourly rate of $73.02. Actual earnings vary by location.
Air Traffic Controller Pay Per Hour vs Similar Healthcare Roles
How does air traffic controller hourly pay compare to similar allied health professions? Here's a side-by-side comparison using BLS 2025 national median data:
| Occupation | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Air Traffic Controller ★ | $73.02 |
| Airline Pilot / Copilot | $107.68 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $63.06 |
| Avionics Technician | $34.67 |
| Flight Attendant | $33.75 |
★ = Air Traffic Controller (2026 projected). Other roles: BLS OEWS 2025 national median wages.
Factors That Drive Air Traffic Controller Hourly Pay Differences
Air traffic controller hourly pay is structured by FAA facility level rating (Level 4 to Level 12), FAA locality pay adjustments, and CIC / FLM / OS supplements. The national median sits at $73.02/hour, but ATC hourly rates at Level 12 facilities with locality pay reach $102.39+ in top markets like New York, NY and exceed $100/hour effective for senior CPCs.
This guide breaks down the five biggest drivers of ATC hourly pay differences. Whether you're an FAA Academy graduate selecting first facility, a CPC controller evaluating facility transfer, or an FAA manager benchmarking pay across states, the framework below is the central reference.
1. FAA Facility Level Rating
- Level 12 facilities (top tier) — major-hub towers (JFK, EWR, LGA, ATL, ORD, DFW, IAH, MIA, LAX, BOS, SFO, SEA, DEN, PHL, DCA, DTW, MSP), busy TRACONs (N90, A80, C90, D10, I90, SCT, NCT, PCT, MIA), busy ARTCCs (Boston, NY, Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Chicago, Houston, LA, Oakland, Seattle, Anchorage).
- Level 10-11 facilities — mid-tier major airports.
- Level 7-9 facilities — smaller commercial airports.
- Level 4-6 facilities — smaller towers in lower-traffic states.
- 22 CONUS ARTCC + Hawaii + Alaska — air route traffic control centers handling en route traffic.
2. FAA Locality Pay
- Highest locality pay areas — San Francisco / San Jose (44%+), New York (39%+), DC-Baltimore (33%+), LA (33%+), Boston (32%+), San Diego (32%+), Houston (35%+), DFW (29%+), Seattle (29%+), Denver (28%+), Chicago (28%+), Honolulu (28%+), Philadelphia (28%+), Detroit (28%+), Minneapolis (25%+), Miami (26%+).
- Rest of US locality — lower percentage outside designated locality pay areas.
- FAA CPC base pay structure — CPC-IT (CPC in Training), CPC, Front Line Manager (FLM), Operations Supervisor (OS), Operations Manager (OM), Air Traffic Manager (ATM).
- CIC pay supplement — Controller-in-Charge pay.
- OT / shift differentials — overtime, premium pay, Sunday / night differential.
3. State and Cost of Living
- California, Hawaii, MA, NY, NJ, WA, CT, MD — lead nominal ATC hourly rankings (high locality + COL).
- State income tax — ATCs in TX, FL, TN, NV, WA, WY, SD, AK, NH keep more. Texas Houston / DFW with high locality + no state tax + Florida Miami with high locality + no state tax deliver top real take-home.
- FERS Special Category pension — mandatory retirement at 56 with favorable calculation.
- PSLF eligibility — federal ATC employment qualifies for PSLF.
4. State FAA Facility Distribution
- California — LAX, SFO, SAN, OAK, BUR, SNA, SMF, FAT, LGB towers; SCT TRACON; NCT TRACON; ZLA Palmdale ARTCC; ZOA Fremont ARTCC.
- Texas — DFW, IAH, AUS, SAT, ELP, MAF, AMA towers; D10 TRACON; I90 TRACON; ZFW; ZHU.
- Florida — MIA, MCO, FLL, TPA, JAX towers; MIA TRACON; ZJX; ZMA.
- New York — JFK, LGA, ISP, ALB, ROC, BUF towers; N90 TRACON; ZNY Ronkonkoma.
- Georgia (ATL Delta hub) — ATL + A80 + ZTL.
- Illinois (ORD United / American hub) — ORD + C90 + ZAU Aurora.
- Massachusetts — BOS + ZBW Nashua-area.
- Washington — SEA + ZSE Auburn.
- Colorado — DEN + ZDV Longmont.
- Virginia — DCA + PCT + ZDC Leesburg.
5. FAA Career Path
- FAA Academy — Oklahoma City required for new-hire controllers.
- Age 31 maximum entry — for off-the-street hires (waiver for some military / CTI candidates).
- Developmental controller (CPC-IT) — entry trainee.
- CPC (Certified Professional Controller) — full credentialed.
- Facility transfer — CPCs can transfer between facilities subject to availability.
- Front Line Manager (FLM) / Operations Supervisor (OS) / Operations Manager (OM) / Air Traffic Manager (ATM) — supervisory advancement.
- FAA controller shortage — sustained recruitment.
- NATCA representation — union bargaining pay structure.
2026 Air Traffic Controller Hourly Pay Outlook
ATC pay has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.57% nationally over the past five years — driven by sustained FAA controller shortage (FAA understaffed at most major facilities for years), aggressive FAA Academy throughput increases, growing flight volume recovery post-pandemic, ongoing NextGen modernization, and structural retirement of large controller cohorts hired in the 1981 PATCO post-strike rehiring wave. The BLS projects ATC employment growth at 1% through 2033, with steady upward pay pressure from chronic understaffing.
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.
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
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. We applied a 2.57% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS trends, to estimate current 2026 compensation.