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Salary comparison

Air Traffic Controllers vs. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians: Who Earns More?

Air Traffic Controllerss out-earn Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicianss by $110K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Air Traffic Controllerss land at $144,580 and Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicianss at $34,330. The education gap is real: air traffic controller programs typically require no formal educational credential, while ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technician programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Air Traffic Controllerss is Virginia ($185,890); for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicianss it's Oklahoma ($43,490).

Air Traffic Controllers
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Median salary
$144,580
$34,330
Hourly rate
$69.51/hr
$16.51/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$76,090
$25,460
Senior level (90th %)
$210,410
$46,630
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
22,400
12,080
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
Virginia
Oklahoma

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Air Traffic Controllers median pay.

State
Air Traffic Controllers
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Virginia
$185,890
$35,050
Minnesota
$176,030
$36,170
Illinois
$175,090
$35,690
Washington
$164,070
$40,560
Tennessee
$153,670
$35,690
California
$152,010
$36,960
Florida
$144,710
$38,340
New York
$142,190
$35,590
New Jersey
$135,470
$39,200
Oklahoma
$121,580
$43,490
Maryland
$114,620
$37,480
Oregon
$113,030
$39,520
Wisconsin
$106,750
$36,750
Massachusetts
$103,230
$39,440
Iowa
$95,200
$35,230

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Air Traffic Controllerss or Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicianss?

Air Traffic Controllerss earn more nationally. The median is $144,580 for Air Traffic Controllerss versus $34,330 for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicianss, a difference of $110K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Air Traffic Controllers or Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians?

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, Air Traffic Controllers or Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians?

Air Traffic Controllers typically requires no formal educational credential. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Air Traffic Controllerss get paid the most?

Virginia is the top-paying state for Air Traffic Controllerss at $185,890/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Air Traffic Controllers vs. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Virginia, Air Traffic Controllerss earn $185,890 vs. $35,050 for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicianss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Air Traffic Controllers salary breakdownView →Full Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians salary breakdownView →Best cities for Air Traffic Controllerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicianss by take-home payExplore →How to become a air traffic controllersGuide →How to become a ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical techniciansGuide →