Air Traffic Controller Salary in Los Angeles, CA: $177,467 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time air traffic controller in Los Angeles, CA earns a median $177,467/year (≈ $85.32/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 53-2021). Once you factor in Los Angeles's price level (14% above national, BEA RPP 113.6), that paycheck buys what $156,268 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Air traffic controllers in Los Angeles, CA, can expect competitive compensation, with a projected median annual salary of $177,467 for 2026, significantly above the national median of $151,886, marking an increase of 16.84%. The salary range demonstrates a wide variance, from $65,152 at the lower 10th percentile to an impressive $231,480 at the 90th percentile. These figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, reflecting the strong demand for air traffic controller positions in a key aviation hub. Moreover, those pursuing this career in Los Angeles often start at a lower pay scale as developmental controllers and work their way up to full certification, which may take between one to three years, depending on experience and training.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $65,152 | $31.32 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $119,320 | $57.37 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $177,467 | $85.32 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $215,028 | $103.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $231,480 | $111.29 |
Median Salary Position
16.84% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, CA, the air traffic controller salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $166,328 (2026 est.). At $177,467, the local median is 16.84% above the national median of $151,886.
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At 40 hours/week in Los Angeles: You'd be above the median
How Los Angeles Air Traffic Controller Pay Compares
Los Angeles median: $177,467/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Los Angeles Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $171,797 | +3.30% more |
| National Average | $151,886 | +16.84% more |
Air Traffic Controllers in Los Angeles, CA earn a median of $177,467 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.84% higher than the national median of $151,886 and 3.30% above the California state average of $171,797.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Los Angeles has a cost of living 13.57% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Los Angeles, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.566 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $177,467 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $156,268 — a 11.95% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$146,060
2025 BLS Actual
$173,020
2026 Current Est.
$177,467
2019–2027 Growth
+24.6%
Salary Trajectory for Air Traffic Controllers in Los Angeles (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.57% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $146,060 | Actual |
| 2020 | $156,560 | Actual |
| 2021 | $151,603 | Actual |
| 2022 | $130,690 | Actual |
| 2023 | $171,470 | Actual |
| 2024 | $169,230 | Actual |
| 2025 | $173,020 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $177,467 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $182,028 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the median air traffic controller salary grew 18.5% from $146,060 (2019) to $173,020 (2025). At a 2.57% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $182,028 by 2027 — a total increase of $35,968 (24.63%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.57% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $65,152 – $119,320 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $119,320 – $177,467 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $177,467 – $215,028 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $215,028 – $231,480 |
ATC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual air traffic controller compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Air Traffic Controller Job Market in Los Angeles
With approximately 690 air traffic controllers employed in the region, the job market remains robust despite the high cost of living index in Los Angeles, currently at 113.566. This reality can impact take-home pay and purchasing power, making it critical for local controllers to navigate their compensation strategically. Among employers, the FAA's en route centers, particularly the Los Angeles Center, tend to offer the highest salaries, while FAA terminal radar approach control and control towers follow close behind. Several factors contribute to the salary spread, including facility level, which differentiates pay for en route versus tower controllers, as well as developmental pay rates, which vary significantly until full certification. For optimal earnings, controllers should aim for opportunities in facilities with higher locality pay and actively seek shifts that provide shift differentials or abundant overtime, especially in this era of chronic staffing shortages.
More salary data for Los Angeles, CA:
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
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $173,020 for air traffic controllersin the Los Angeles metropolitan area. A 2.57% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.57%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for air traffic controllers (SOC 53-2021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, ATO, a licensed air traffic controller with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov