Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in New Mexico is $148,550/year ($71.42/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $188K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $159,628 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 12.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $149K get you in New Mexico?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Air traffic controllers pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $149K locally vs. $148K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 12.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $149K. Top earners bring in $188K or more, a $110K spread from bottom to top.
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Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $149K, rent takes 12.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,644/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $149K locally vs. $148K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
New Mexico pays $149K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $160K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in New Mexico?
The median is $148,550 a year, that works out to about $71 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,400, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $187,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $149K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,834/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 12.7% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $159,628 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.