The average salary for an air traffic controller in California is around $160,080 per year.
Avg Salary
Air traffic controllers earn an average yearly salary of $160,080.
Wages typically start from $80,960 and go up to $225,680.
94% above national average Updated in 2025
Air traffic controller earnings by seniority
Top-level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$108.50 per hour
$225,680 per year
Senior-level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$99.84 per hour
$207,670 per year
Mid-level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$76.96 per hour
$160,080 per year
Junior-level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$55.68 per hour
$115,810 per year
Starting level air traffic controller earnings begin at:
$38.93 per hour
$80,960 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Air traffic controller salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $99,810 |
| Wisconsin | $98,860 |
| Puerto Rico | $98,770 |
| Wyoming | $93,580 |
| Oregon | $92,030 |
| Iowa | $90,790 |
| Mississippi | $88,110 |
| Guam | $84,900 |
| Idaho | $81,118 |
| South Dakota | $79,120 |
| West Virginia | $76,220 |
| District of Columbia | $47,760 |
| Virginia | $191,820 |
| Illinois | $181,560 |
| Georgia | $178,420 |
| Colorado | $177,380 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 |
| Texas | $170,080 |
| Washington | $162,570 |
| California | $160,080 |
| Kansas | $159,700 |
| Indiana | $158,810 |
| Hawaii | $158,700 |
| Utah | $158,310 |
| Tennessee | $157,330 |
| New Mexico | $148,550 |
| Florida | $147,530 |
| New Hampshire | $146,080 |
| New York | $144,960 |
| Connecticut | $140,940 |
| Nevada | $140,920 |
| Ohio | $139,970 |
| Arizona | $136,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $132,350 |
| New Jersey | $132,230 |
| Maryland | $131,290 |
| North Carolina | $129,230 |
| Kentucky | $127,800 |
| Rhode Island | $126,300 |
| Massachusetts | $125,060 |
| Alaska | $123,950 |
| Oklahoma | $123,220 |
| Missouri | $122,200 |
| Michigan | $118,930 |
| Alabama | $114,960 |
| South Carolina | $112,030 |
| Nebraska | $111,710 |
| Arkansas | $109,760 |
| Vermont | $109,140 |
| North Dakota | $107,990 |
| Maine | $107,270 |
| Montana | $101,380 |
How do air traffic controller salaries compare to similar careers?
Air traffic controllers earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than pilots but more than transportation planners.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Pilot salary | $354K |
| Commercial pilot salary | $166K |
| Air traffic controller salary | $160K |
| Shipmate salary | $110K |
| Ship captain salary | $110K |
| Ship engineer salary | $98K |
| Transportation planner salary | $98K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)