Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in California is $160,080/year ($76.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $226K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $150,820 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 26.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $160K get you in California?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in California
Air traffic controllers pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $160K locally vs. $148K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $160K. Top earners bring in $226K or more, a $145K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in California
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $196K | +23% | 240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $193K | +21% | 430 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $173K | +8% | 690 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $94K | -41% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $160K, rent takes 27.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,858/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $160K locally vs. $148K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
California pays $160K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $151K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in California?
The median is $160,080 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,960, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $225,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $160K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,095/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 27.2% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 $150,820 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.