Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Hawaii is $158,700/year ($76.3/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $93K at the entry level to $205K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $144,050 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,240/month, or 23.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Hawaii. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $159K get you in Hawaii?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Air traffic controllers pay in Hawaii tracks closely to the national median, $159K locally vs. $148K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $2,240/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), 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, Hawaii
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $93K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K. Top earners bring in $205K or more, a $112K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
Yes — at the median salary of $159K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $93K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,555/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Hawaii?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $159K locally vs. $148K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Hawaii pays $159K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $144K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Hawaii?
The median is $158,700 a year, that works out to about $76 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $92,580, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $205,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,907/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 25.1% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (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 $144,050 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.