Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Oklahoma is $123,220/year ($59.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $170K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.46), which stretches that salary to about $140,887 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,081/month, or 14.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oklahoma. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $123K get you in Oklahoma?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Oklahoma
Pay for air traffic controllers in Oklahoma runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,081/month, 14.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Oklahoma can be a reasonable trade-off for air traffic controllerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oklahoma
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $170K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in Oklahoma
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $147K | +19% | 130 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oklahoma?
Yes — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 14.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,081/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Oklahoma?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,700/month. At HUD’s $1,081/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Oklahoma?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $123K here vs. $148K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Oklahoma compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Oklahoma pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $141K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Oklahoma?
The median is $123,220 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,340, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $169,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Oklahoma?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,468/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,081/month, which eats 14.5% 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 Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has a Regional Price Parity of 87.46 (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 $140,887 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.