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. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $171,035 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 16.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Colorado. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $177K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for air traffic controllers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,832/month, 17.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Colorado offers a genuinely strong financial position for air traffic controllers at the median.
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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Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $177K, rent takes 17.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/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 $4,893/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 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%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $171K — still ahead of the national median.
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 $1,832/month, which eats 17.7% 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 103.71 (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 $171,035 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.