Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Missouri is $122,200/year ($58.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $91K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $137,350 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 14.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $122K get you in Missouri?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for air traffic controllers in Missouri runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 14.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Missouri can be a reasonable trade-off for air traffic controllerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $91K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in Missouri
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $162K | +32% | 430 |
| St. Louis | $128K | +4% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 14.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $91K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,456/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 20% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $122K here vs. $148K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Missouri pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $137K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Missouri?
The median is $122,200 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $90,940, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $166,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,435/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 14.8% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $137,350 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.