Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in New Jersey is $132,230/year ($63.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $88K at the entry level to $210K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $133,109 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,067/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $132K get you in New Jersey?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Pay for air traffic controllers in New Jersey runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $148K. Rent runs $2,067/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $88K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $210K or more, a $121K 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 New Jersey numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 26.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $88K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,308/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $132K here vs. $148K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
New Jersey pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in New Jersey?
The median is $132,230 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $88,460, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $209,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,903/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 26.2% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $133,109 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.