Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in New York is $144,960/year ($69.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $226K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $147,602 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New York. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $145K get you in New York?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in New York
Air traffic controllers pay in New York tracks closely to the national median, $145K locally vs. $148K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,917/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) 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 York
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $145K. Top earners bring in $226K or more, a $151K 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 York numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $145K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,459/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 York?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $145K locally vs. $148K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does New York compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
New York pays $145K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $148K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in New York?
The median is $144,960 a year, that works out to about $70 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,320, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $225,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $145K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,515/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 22.5% 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 York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $147,602 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.