Air Traffic Controller Salary in Salt Lake City, UT: $165,794 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time air traffic controller in Salt Lake City, UT earns a median $165,794/year (≈ $79.71/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 53-2021). Once you factor in Salt Lake City's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 100.9), that paycheck buys what $164,367 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 11.3% above the Utah state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Air traffic controller salary in Salt Lake City is notably competitive, with the 2026 median annual figure projected at $165,794, which surpasses the national median of $151,886 by 9.16%. The salary range for controllers in this region varies significantly, spanning from $78,528 at the 10th percentile to as high as $196,596 at the 90th percentile. This substantial compensation package can often be attributed to the demanding nature of the job, which frequently involves working 50 to 60-hour weeks due to understaffing at various facilities. Such conditions drive up effective earnings, making Salt Lake City a desirable market for current and prospective air traffic controllers.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $78,528 | $37.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $146,039 | $70.21 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $165,794 | $79.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $177,569 | $85.37 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $196,596 | $94.52 |
Median Salary Position
9.16% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Salt Lake City
In Salt Lake City, UT, the air traffic controller salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $118,068 (2026 est.). At $165,794, the local median is 9.16% above the national median of $151,886.
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At 40 hours/week in Salt Lake City: You'd be above the median
How Salt Lake City Air Traffic Controller Pay Compares
Salt Lake City median: $165,794/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Salt Lake City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Average | $148,961 | +11.30% more |
| National Average | $151,886 | +9.16% more |
Air Traffic Controllers in Salt Lake City, UT earn a median of $165,794 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.16% higher than the national median of $151,886 and 11.30% above the Utah state average of $148,961.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Salt Lake City has a cost of living 0.87% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Salt Lake City, UT has a cost-of-living index of 100.868 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $165,794 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $164,367 — a 0.86% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$134,252
2025 BLS Actual
$161,640
2026 Current Est.
$165,794
2019–2027 Growth
+26.7%
Salary Trajectory for Air Traffic Controllers in Salt Lake City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.57% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $134,252 | Actual |
| 2020 | $142,363 | Actual |
| 2021 | $139,110 | Actual |
| 2022 | $142,480 | Actual |
| 2023 | $148,700 | Actual |
| 2024 | $158,620 | Actual |
| 2025 | $161,640 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $165,794 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $170,055 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, the median air traffic controller salary grew 20.4% from $134,252 (2019) to $161,640 (2025). At a 2.57% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $170,055 by 2027 — a total increase of $35,803 (26.67%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Salt Lake City 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) | $78,528 – $146,039 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $146,039 – $165,794 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $165,794 – $177,569 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $177,569 – $196,596 |
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 Salt Lake City
Employed in the region are around 330 air traffic controllers, who contend with a cost-of-living index of 100.868, slightly above the national average. The purchasing power for controllers is impacted by local economic conditions, making the effective take-home pay a vital consideration. Among local employers, the FAA's en route centers generally offer the highest salaries, followed by terminal approach control facilities and airport traffic control towers. Controllers can maximize their pay through certifications, especially by obtaining CPC (Certified Professional Controller) status, utilizing shift differentials, and capitalizing on mandatory overtime opportunities. Understanding the tier structure of facilities, with higher-pay at en route locations, can guide strategic career moves within Salt Lake City, UT’s air traffic control job market.
More salary data for Salt Lake City, UT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can air traffic controllers make $100K in Salt Lake City?
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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 $161,640 for air traffic controllersin the Salt Lake City 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, 5-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