Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Colorado is $177,380/year ($85.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $214K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Colorado. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $177K get you in Colorado?
About air traffic controllers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $177K. Top earners bring in $214K or more, a $138K spread from bottom to top.
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $177K, rent takes 19.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,579/month.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $177K here vs. $148K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Colorado pays $177K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s +20%.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Colorado?
The median is $177,380 a year, that works out to about $85 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,310, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $213,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $177K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,356/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 19.7% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median air traffic controllers salary is worth about $177,380 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.