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Salary comparison

Air Traffic Controllers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Air Traffic Controllers out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by $108K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Air Traffic Controllers land at $148,080 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $40,240. The education gap is real: air traffic controller programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Air Traffic Controllers is Virginia ($191,820); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Air Traffic Controllers
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$148,080
$40,240
Hourly rate
$71.19/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$78,420
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$215,610
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
22,510
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
1.2%
1.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
Virginia
Minnesota

Pay by state

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

State
Air Traffic Controllers
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Colorado
$177,380
$45,370
Minnesota
$176,840
$46,280
Washington
$162,570
$46,190
California
$160,080
$44,710
Hawaii
$158,700
$44,120
New York
$144,960
$44,630
Connecticut
$140,940
$43,640
Arizona
$136,800
$44,290
Massachusetts
$125,060
$44,920
Alaska
$123,950
$44,510
Nebraska
$111,710
$42,910
North Dakota
$107,990
$45,690
Montana
$101,380
$43,840
Iowa
$90,790
$43,490
District of Columbia
$47,760
$45,740

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Air Traffic Controllers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Air Traffic Controllers earn more nationally. The median is $148,080 for Air Traffic Controllers versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, a difference of $108K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Air Traffic Controllers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand has the better 10-year outlook at 1.5% projected growth, compared to 1.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Air Traffic Controllers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Air Traffic Controllers typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Air Traffic Controllers get paid the most?

Virginia is the top-paying state for Air Traffic Controllers at $191,820/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Air Traffic Controllers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Colorado, Air Traffic Controllers earn $177,380 vs. $45,370 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Air Traffic Controllers salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Air Traffic Controllers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by take-home payExplore →How to become a air traffic controllersGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →