Air Traffic Controller Salary in St. Louis, MO: $130,910 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time air traffic controller in St. Louis, MO earns a median $130,910/year (≈ $62.94/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 53-2021). Once you factor in St. Louis's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.1), that paycheck buys what $137,672 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.8% below the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual air traffic controller salary in St. Louis, Missouri, of $130,910 in 2026, local compensation reflects the realities of a workload that often extends to 50-60 hour weeks. This demanding schedule, particularly in understaffed facilities, often contributes to higher earnings through overtime pay, which can significantly boost total income. Salaries in the area range from $94,980 at the 10th percentile to $171,087 at the 90th percentile. These figures derive from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, which are essential for understanding the earnings landscape in this sector. While the average pay here is somewhat lower than the national median of $151,886, St. Louis's job opportunities remain compelling, especially for those entering the field under the current hiring conditions.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $94,980 | $45.66 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $113,094 | $54.37 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $130,910 | $62.94 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $151,322 | $72.75 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $171,087 | $82.25 |
Median Salary Position
13.81% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Louis
In St. Louis, MO, the air traffic controller salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $76,107 (2026 est.). At $130,910, the local median is 13.81% below the national median of $151,886.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Louis: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Louis Air Traffic Controller Pay Compares
St. Louis median: $130,910/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Louis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $136,081 | -3.80% less |
| National Average | $151,886 | -13.81% less |
Air Traffic Controllers in St. Louis, MO earn a median of $130,910 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.81% lower than the national median of $151,886 and 3.80% below the Missouri state average of $136,081.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Louis has a cost of living 4.91% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Louis, MO has a cost-of-living index of 95.088 (below the national average of 100). A air traffic controller earning $130,910 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $137,672 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$105,540
2025 BLS Actual
$127,630
2026 Current Est.
$130,910
2019–2027 Growth
+27.2%
Salary Trajectory for Air Traffic Controllers in St. Louis (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.57% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $105,540 | Actual |
| 2020 | $108,180 | Actual |
| 2021 | $107,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $109,450 | Actual |
| 2023 | $111,740 | Actual |
| 2024 | $123,920 | Actual |
| 2025 | $127,630 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $130,910 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $134,274 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Louis metropolitan area, the median air traffic controller salary grew 20.9% from $105,540 (2019) to $127,630 (2025). At a 2.57% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $134,274 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,734 (27.23%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Louis 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) | $94,980 – $113,094 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $113,094 – $130,910 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $130,910 – $151,322 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $151,322 – $171,087 |
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 St. Louis
Employers in St. Louis include FAA en route centers, FAA terminal radar approach control facilities, various airport traffic control towers, and military air traffic control, each offering different compensation structures that influence pay. Currently, about 140 air traffic controllers are employed in the region, set against a cost of living index of 95.088, which can enhance purchasing power for professionals. Factors affecting salary distribution include the facility level, with en route offices generally providing the highest pay, as well as CPC certification status and eligibility for shift differentials, overtime, and locality pay. For prospective air traffic controllers, maximizing earnings might involve targeting higher-tier facilities or pursuing overtime opportunities, particularly significant given the chronic staffing shortages across the industry.
More salary data for St. Louis, MO:
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 $127,630 for air traffic controllersin the St. Louis 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, 7-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