Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is $173,020/year ($83.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $226K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $152,347 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,601/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $173K get you in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim’s Regional Price Parity (113.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About air traffic controllers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim sits well above the national pay line for air traffic controllers, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $148K. Rent runs $2,601/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 113.57), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for air traffic controllers in metros near Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $193K | $167K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $196K | $184K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $94K | $88K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $161K | $156K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $173K. Top earners bring in $226K or more, a $162K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Air Traffic Controllers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $192K | +30% | 1,120 |
| Illinois | $182K | +23% | 990 |
| Georgia | $178K | +20% | 970 |
| Colorado | $177K | +20% | 740 |
| Minnesota | $177K | +19% | 680 |
| Texas | $170K | +15% | 2,060 |
| Washington | $163K | +10% | 620 |
| California | $160K | +8% | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $160K | +8% | 430 |
| Indiana | $159K | +7% | 630 |
| Hawaii | $159K | +7% | 210 |
| Utah | $158K | +7% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $157K | +6% | 590 |
| New Mexico | $149K | +0% | 350 |
| Florida | $148K | -0% | 1,950 |
| New York | $145K | -2% | 1,150 |
| Connecticut | $141K | -5% | N/A |
| Nevada | $141K | -5% | 210 |
| Arizona | $137K | -8% | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $132K | -11% | 460 |
| New Jersey | $132K | -11% | 190 |
| Maryland | $131K | -11% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $129K | -13% | 410 |
| Kentucky | $128K | -14% | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $126K | -15% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $125K | -16% | 120 |
| Alaska | $124K | -16% | 490 |
| Oklahoma | $123K | -17% | 270 |
| Missouri | $122K | -17% | 260 |
| Michigan | $119K | -20% | 360 |
| Alabama | $115K | -22% | 240 |
| South Carolina | $112K | -24% | 190 |
| Nebraska | $112K | -25% | 70 |
| Arkansas | $110K | -26% | 80 |
| Vermont | $109K | -26% | 30 |
| North Dakota | $108K | -27% | 100 |
| Maine | $107K | -28% | 70 |
| Montana | $101K | -32% | 60 |
| Louisiana | $100K | -33% | 230 |
| Wyoming | $94K | -37% | 40 |
| Iowa | $91K | -39% | 120 |
| Mississippi | $88K | -40% | 160 |
| District of Columbia | $48K | -68% | 820 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Yes — at the median salary of $173K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,601/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,811/month. At HUD’s $2,601/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $173K here vs. $148K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 14% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim pays $173K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 113.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $152K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $173,020 a year, that works out to about $83 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,520, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $225,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $173K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,732/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/month, which eats 26.7% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (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 $152,347 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.