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Salary comparison

Agricultural Engineers vs. Air Traffic Controllers: Who Earns More?

Air Traffic Controllerss out-earn Agricultural Engineerss by $60K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Agricultural Engineerss land at $84,630 and Air Traffic Controllerss at $144,580. The education gap is real: agricultural engineer programs typically require bachelor's degree, while air traffic controller programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Agricultural Engineerss is Ohio ($111,200); for Air Traffic Controllerss it's Virginia ($185,890).

Agricultural Engineers
Air Traffic Controllers
Median salary
$84,630
$144,580
Hourly rate
$40.69/hr
$69.51/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$43,020
$76,090
Senior level (90th %)
$132,700
$210,410
Education required
Bachelor's degree
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
1,680
22,400
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Engineering
Transportation
Top-paying state
Ohio
Virginia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Agricultural Engineers median pay.

State
Agricultural Engineers
Air Traffic Controllers
Texas
$104,980
$167,710
Florida
$98,180
$144,710
Wisconsin
$94,310
$106,750
Michigan
$91,470
$113,650
Indiana
$84,640
$155,790
Oklahoma
$84,630
$121,580
Nebraska
$75,760
$108,990
Pennsylvania
$73,930
$129,310
Arkansas
$59,990
$99,490

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Engineerss or Air Traffic Controllerss?

Air Traffic Controllerss earn more nationally. The median is $84,630 for Agricultural Engineerss versus $144,580 for Air Traffic Controllerss, a difference of $60K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Agricultural Engineers or Air Traffic Controllers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Agricultural Engineers or Air Traffic Controllers?

Agricultural Engineers typically requires bachelor's degree. Air Traffic Controllers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Agricultural Engineerss get paid the most?

Ohio is the top-paying state for Agricultural Engineerss at $111,200/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Agricultural Engineers vs. Air Traffic Controllers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Texas, Agricultural Engineerss earn $104,980 vs. $167,710 for Air Traffic Controllerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agricultural Engineers salary breakdownView →Full Air Traffic Controllers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agricultural Engineerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Air Traffic Controllerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a agricultural engineersGuide →How to become a air traffic controllersGuide →