Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Alabama is $114,960/year ($55.27/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $160K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $130,104 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 14.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Alabama. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $115K get you in Alabama?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for air traffic controllers in Alabama runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 15.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Alabama can be a reasonable trade-off for air traffic controllerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $115K. Top earners bring in $160K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $115K, rent takes 15.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,765/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $115K here vs. $148K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Alabama pays $115K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $130K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Alabama?
The median is $114,960 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,420, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $159,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $115K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,973/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 15.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a air traffic controllers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median air traffic controllers salary is worth about $130,104 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do air traffic controllers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.