Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in North Carolina is $129,230/year ($62.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $89K at the entry level to $192K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $139,467 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 16% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $129K get you in North Carolina?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for air traffic controllers in North Carolina runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 16.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for air traffic controllerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $89K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $192K or more, a $103K 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 North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 16.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $89K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,321/month. At HUD’s $1,284/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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $129K here vs. $148K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
North Carolina pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $139K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in North Carolina?
The median is $129,230 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $88,690, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $191,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,772/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 16.5% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $139,467 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.