Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Indiana is $158,810/year ($76.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $201K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $172,977 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 11.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $159K get you in Indiana?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Indiana
Air traffic controllers pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $159K locally vs. $148K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 12% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K. Top earners bring in $201K or more, a $120K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in Indiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $172K | +8% | 470 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $159K, rent takes 12% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,860/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $159K locally vs. $148K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Indiana pays $159K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $173K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Indiana?
The median is $158,810 a year, that works out to about $76 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,000, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $200,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,538/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 12% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $172,977 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.