Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Montana is $101,380/year ($48.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $104,515 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 17.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $101K get you in Montana?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for air traffic controllers in Montana runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 18.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana can be a reasonable trade-off for air traffic controllerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 18.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,508/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $101K here vs. $148K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Montana pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Montana?
The median is $101,380 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,130, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $127,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,236/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 18.1% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 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 $104,515 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.