Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in District of Columbia is $47,760/year ($22.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $196K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $96K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $43,865 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,146/month, about 65.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in District of Columbia?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in District of Columbia
Pay for air traffic controllers in District of Columbia runs about 68% below the U.S. median of $148K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,146/month, which is 66.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for air traffic controllerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $196K or more, a $149K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $175K | +266% | 1,800 |
Compare to other states
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 66.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,866/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 75% 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 District of Columbia?
Local pay runs 68% below the national median — $48K here vs. $148K nationally.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
District of Columbia pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -68%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in District of Columbia?
The median is $47,760 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,760, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $196,310. The mean (average) is $96,410, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,219/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 66.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a air traffic controllers salary go in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $43,865 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.