Air Traffic Controller salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
An air traffic controller earns a median of $148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $146,490. About 22,510 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $148,080
- Gross pay
- $5,695.38
- Federal income tax
- −$933.58
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$353.11
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$82.58
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $4,326.10
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $148,080
- Federal
- $24,273
- FICA
- $11,328
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $112,479
- Marginal federal rate
- 24.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
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- Commercial Pilot: $123,220
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- Captain: $92,460
- Transportation Inspector: $92,100
- Subway and Streetcar Operator: $86,380
- Locomotive Engineer: $81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster: $78,000
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operator: $77,320
BLS occupation: Air Traffic Controllers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 53-2021). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $71.19; the average is $70.43.
What is the salary range for an air traffic controller?
The bottom 10% earn under $78,420 and the top 10% earn over $215,610 a year.
How much is $148,080 after taxes?
About $112,479 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $101,027 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.