Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Illinois is $181,560/year ($87.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $226K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $193,458 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 13.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $182K get you in Illinois?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for air traffic controllers, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 13.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Illinois offers a genuinely strong financial position for air traffic controllerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $182K. Top earners bring in $226K or more, a $142K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $190K | +5% | 850 |
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Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $182K, rent takes 13.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,039/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $182K here vs. $148K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Illinois pays $182K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $193K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Illinois?
The median is $181,560 a year, that works out to about $87 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,990, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $225,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $182K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,517/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 13.4% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $193,458 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.