Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in North Dakota is $107,990/year ($51.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $147K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $121,487 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 14.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $108K get you in North Dakota?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for air traffic controllers in North Dakota runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 15.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for air traffic controllerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $108K. Top earners bring in $147K or more, a $89K 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 Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $108K, rent takes 15.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,508/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $108K here vs. $148K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
North Dakota pays $108K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in North Dakota?
The median is $107,990 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,470, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $147,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $108K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,854/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 15.1% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $121,487 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.