Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Arizona is $136,800/year ($65.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $87K at the entry level to $196K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $141,894 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 17% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $137K get you in Arizona?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Arizona
Air traffic controllers pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $137K locally vs. $148K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 17.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $87K. Mid-career wages sit at $137K. Top earners bring in $196K or more, a $109K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in Arizona
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $161K | +18% | 220 |
Compare to other states
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $137K, rent takes 17.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $87K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,198/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $137K locally vs. $148K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Arizona pays $137K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Arizona?
The median is $136,800 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,630, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $195,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $137K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,403/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 17.1% 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 Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 $141,894 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.