Air Traffic Controller Salary

Air Traffic Controller Salary in Lauderhill, FL: $150,560 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time air traffic controller in Lauderhill, FL earns a median $150,560/year (≈ $72.38/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 53-2021). Once you factor in Lauderhill's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 100.8), that paycheck buys what $149,365 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.6% below the Florida state average.

$150,560
Median Annual Salary
$72.38/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$87,325
Entry Level (P10)
$218,391
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Air Traffic Controller Salary in Lauderhill, FL — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Lauderhill, FL air traffic controller salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

With a median annual salary of $150,560 in Lauderhill, air traffic controllers find themselves in a competitive pay environment, especially when considering similar roles across the nation, where the median is $151,886. The projected salary range for 2026 spans from $87,325 at the 10th percentile to an impressive $218,391 at the 90th percentile. These estimates derive from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost-of-living factors in Florida. Controllers in Lauderhill operate within a unique market, with positions available at various facility tiers, including FAA en route centers and terminal radar control, which influence earning potential significantly.

About the Lauderhill Market

Salary estimated from Florida average ($135,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$87,325$41.98
Lower Range (P25)$108,403$52.12
Median (P50)(typical)$150,560$72.38
Upper Range (P75)$192,718$92.65
Top Earners (P90)$218,391$104.99

Median Salary Position

$87,325$218,391
City Median: $150,560
National: $151,886
P10–P90 Range

0.87% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lauderhill

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for air traffic controllers in Lauderhill. The median salary is $150,560, compared to the national median of $151,886.$78.6K$116.3K$154.0K$191.6K$229.3K$87.3K10th Pctl$108.4K25th Pctl$150.6KMedian$192.7K75th Pctl$218.4K90th PctlUS Median$151.9K

In Lauderhill, FL, the air traffic controller salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $131,066 (2026 est.). At $150,560, the local median is 0.87% below the national median of $151,886.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of air traffic controller pay in the Lauderhill metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$2,895
per week
$12,546
per month
$150,558
per year

At 40 hours/week in Lauderhill: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Lauderhill Air Traffic Controller Pay Compares

Lauderhill median: $150,560/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryLauderhill Pays
Florida Average$154,580-2.60% less
National Average$151,886-0.87% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing air traffic controller median salary in Lauderhill ($150,560) with Florida average ($154,580) and the US national median ($151,886).Lauderhill$150,560Florida Avg$154,580-2.60%US National$151,886-0.87%

Air Traffic Controllers in Lauderhill, FL earn a median of $150,560 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.87% lower than the national median of $151,886 and 2.60% below the Florida state average of $154,580.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$150,560
Nominal Salary
100.8
CoL Index
$149,365
Adjusted Salary

Lauderhill has a cost of living 0.80% above the national average.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $150,560. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 100.8, the purchasing-power equivalent is $149,365, a loss of $1,195.$127.0K$138.9K$150.8K$162.7K$174.7K$150,560NominalSalary$149,365CoL Adjusted(CoL: 100.8) -0.79%US Median $151.9K

Lauderhill, FL has a cost-of-living index of 100.8 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $150,560 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $149,365 — a 0.79% reduction.

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2019 BLS Actual

$121,917

2025 BLS Actual

$146,788

2026 Current Est.

$150,560

2019–2027 Growth

+26.7%

Salary Trajectory for Air Traffic Controllers in Lauderhill (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.57% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for air traffic controllers in Lauderhill. Baseline $121,917 in 2025, projected to $154,430 by 2027.$115.4K$126.8K$138.2K$149.6K$160.9K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$121.9K$129.3K$128.6K$131.1K$136.2K$132.5K$146.8K$150.6K$154.4K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$121,917Actual
2020$129,282Actual
2021$128,618Actual
2022$131,096Actual
2023$136,181Actual
2024$132,548Actual
2025$146,788Actual
2026(current)$150,560Estimated
2027$154,430Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lauderhill metropolitan area, the median air traffic controller salary grew 20.4% from $121,917 (2019) to $146,788 (2025). At a 2.57% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $154,430 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,513 (26.67%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lauderhill metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$87,325$108,403
3-5 years (Mid Career)$108,403$150,560
5+ years (Experienced)$150,560$192,718
10+ years (Top Earner)$192,718$218,391

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 Lauderhill

In Lauderhill, Florida, the job market for air traffic controllers is anchored by the presence of approximately 19 employed in the area. While this may seem limited, local salaries are robust, with a cost-of-living index of 100.8 indicating a fairly manageable expense environment. Among the highest-paying sectors are FAA en route centers, typically offering superior compensation due to their complexity and responsibility. The variation in salary, from entry-level positions at lower-tier facilities to those commanding higher pay at en route locations, is influenced by factors like certification status, shift differentials, and mandatory overtime that has become increasingly prevalent in a post-sequester workforce environment. For those aiming to maximize their air traffic controller pay in Lauderhill, pursuing opportunities in en route facilities, seeking CPC certification, and capitalizing on night and holiday shifts can significantly impact overall earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do air traffic controllers make in Lauderhill, FL in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median air traffic controller salary in Lauderhill is $150,560/year ($72.38/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 2.57% annual growth). Salaries range from $87,325 at entry level (10th percentile) to $218,391 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Lauderhill at 0.9% below the national median. Full-time air traffic controllers typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Lauderhill, FL a good place to work as a air traffic controller?

Lauderhill air traffic controller salaries are 0.9% below the national average and 2.6% below the Florida state average. The metro area employs approximately 19 air traffic controllers. With a cost-of-living index of 100.8, you should factor in higher living costs when evaluating compensation. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can air traffic controllers make $100K in Lauderhill?

Yes — the median air traffic controller salary in Lauderhill is already $150,560, meaning more than half of air traffic controllers here earn six figures. Top earners (90th percentile) make $218,391/year. Factors that push pay above $100K include years of experience, specialty certifications, and working at high-production practices or large organizations.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted air traffic controller salary in Lauderhill?

After adjusting for Lauderhill's cost-of-living index of 100.8 (where 100 equals the national average), the $150,560 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $149,365 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Lauderhill reduce the effective value of your salary by 0.8% compared to the national average — consider negotiating higher base pay or exploring nearby lower-cost metros.

How much does a air traffic controller make per hour in Lauderhill?

Air Traffic Controllers in Lauderhill earn a median hourly rate of $72.38, which translates to approximately $150,560/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $41.98 for entry-level positions to $104.99 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem air traffic controllers sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

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JL

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.

Clinically reviewed by Amina Rodriguez, ATOData verified by Omar Patel, ATO

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 $146,788 for air traffic controllersin the Lauderhill 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

Salary data for Lauderhill is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).

View estimation methodology

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

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