Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Alaska is $123,950/year ($59.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $192K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $118,828 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,643/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $124K actually covers in Alaska, month by month
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Alaska
Pay for air traffic controllers in Alaska runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,643/month, 20.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Alaska can be a reasonable trade-off for air traffic controllers who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $192K or more, a $125K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $161K | +30% | 280 |
| Fairbanks-College | $103K | -17% | 80 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 20.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,615/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $124K here vs. $148K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Alaska pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Alaska?
The median is $123,950 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,800, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $191,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,956/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 20.7% 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 Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median air traffic controllers salary is worth about $118,828 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.