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:
Where the paycheck goes
What $159K actually covers in Indiana, month by month
About air traffic controllers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
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 |
Compare to other states
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
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 $5,242/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 22% 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.