Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors vs. Air Traffic Controllers: Who Earns More?
Air Traffic Controllers out-earn Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors by $87K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors land at $61,540 and Air Traffic Controllers at $148,080. The education gap is real: adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor programs typically require bachelor's degree, while air traffic controller programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors is California ($102,030); for Air Traffic Controllers it's Virginia ($191,820).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors or Air Traffic Controllers?
Air Traffic Controllers earn more nationally. The median is $61,540 for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors versus $148,080 for Air Traffic Controllers, a difference of $87K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors or Air Traffic Controllers?
Air Traffic Controllers has the better 10-year outlook at 1.2% projected growth, compared to -13.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors or Air Traffic Controllers?
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors typically requires bachelor's degree. Air Traffic Controllers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors get paid the most?
California is the top-paying state for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors at $102,030/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors vs. Air Traffic Controllers pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors earn $102,030 vs. $160,080 for Air Traffic Controllers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.