Air Traffic Controllers Salary in Columbia, SC
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Columbia, SC is $100,510/year ($48.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $107,314 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 20.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $101K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About air traffic controllers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $186K | +29% | 1,130 |
| Minnesota | $176K | +22% | 630 |
| Illinois | $175K | +21% | 1,000 |
| Georgia | $175K | +21% | 970 |
| Texas | $168K | +16% | 2,020 |
| Washington | $164K | +13% | 600 |
| Kansas | $157K | +8% | 410 |
| Utah | $156K | +8% | 350 |
| Indiana | $156K | +8% | 620 |
| Tennessee | $154K | +6% | 610 |
| California | $152K | +5% | 2,260 |
| Nevada | $148K | +2% | 210 |
| New Mexico | $145K | +0% | 360 |
| Florida | $145K | +0% | 1,980 |
| New York | $142K | -2% | 1,190 |
| Hawaii | $142K | -2% | 220 |
| New Jersey | $135K | -6% | 210 |
| Arizona | $131K | -9% | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $129K | -11% | 410 |
| Kentucky | $127K | -12% | 210 |
| Rhode Island | $124K | -15% | 50 |
| Connecticut | $122K | -16% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $122K | -16% | 250 |
| North Dakota | $121K | -16% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $121K | -17% | 440 |
| Alaska | $120K | -17% | 500 |
| Idaho | $117K | -19% | 60 |
| Missouri | $115K | -20% | 240 |
| Maryland | $115K | -21% | 110 |
| Michigan | $114K | -21% | 380 |
| Oregon | $113K | -22% | 180 |
| Alabama | $113K | -22% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $109K | -25% | 70 |
| South Carolina | $107K | -26% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $107K | -26% | 140 |
| Massachusetts | $103K | -29% | 130 |
| Louisiana | $100K | -31% | 240 |
| Arkansas | $99K | -31% | 110 |
| South Dakota | $99K | -32% | 50 |
| Iowa | $95K | -34% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $91K | -37% | 130 |
| Wyoming | $90K | -38% | 40 |
| West Virginia | $86K | -40% | 90 |
| District of Columbia | $36K | -75% | 700 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do air traffic controllers make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $100,510 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,790, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $125,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,191/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 20.6% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (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 $107,314 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.