Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Portland-South Portland, ME is $121,660/year ($58.49/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $144K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $119,438 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,130/month, or 29.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $122K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Portland-South Portland
Pay for air traffic controllers in Portland-South Portland runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $148K. Rent runs $2,130/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.86) 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, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $144K or more, a $105K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Air Traffic Controllers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $192K | +30% | 1,120 |
| Illinois | $182K | +23% | 990 |
| Georgia | $178K | +20% | 970 |
| Colorado | $177K | +20% | 740 |
| Minnesota | $177K | +19% | 680 |
| Texas | $170K | +15% | 2,060 |
| Washington | $163K | +10% | 620 |
| California | $160K | +8% | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $160K | +8% | 430 |
| Indiana | $159K | +7% | 630 |
| Hawaii | $159K | +7% | 210 |
| Utah | $158K | +7% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $157K | +6% | 590 |
| New Mexico | $149K | +0% | 350 |
| Florida | $148K | -0% | 1,950 |
| New York | $145K | -2% | 1,150 |
| Connecticut | $141K | -5% | N/A |
| Nevada | $141K | -5% | 210 |
| Arizona | $137K | -8% | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $132K | -11% | 460 |
| New Jersey | $132K | -11% | 190 |
| Maryland | $131K | -11% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $129K | -13% | 410 |
| Kentucky | $128K | -14% | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $126K | -15% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $125K | -16% | 120 |
| Alaska | $124K | -16% | 490 |
| Oklahoma | $123K | -17% | 270 |
| Missouri | $122K | -17% | 260 |
| Michigan | $119K | -20% | 360 |
| Alabama | $115K | -22% | 240 |
| South Carolina | $112K | -24% | 190 |
| Nebraska | $112K | -25% | 70 |
| Arkansas | $110K | -26% | 80 |
| Vermont | $109K | -26% | 30 |
| North Dakota | $108K | -27% | 100 |
| Maine | $107K | -28% | 70 |
| Montana | $101K | -32% | 60 |
| Louisiana | $100K | -33% | 230 |
| Wyoming | $94K | -37% | 40 |
| Iowa | $91K | -39% | 120 |
| Mississippi | $88K | -40% | 160 |
| District of Columbia | $48K | -68% | 820 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track air traffic controllers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-South Portland numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-South Portland?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,130/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Portland-South Portland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,314/month. At HUD’s $2,130/month FMR, rent would take 92% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $122K here vs. $148K nationally.
How does Portland-South Portland compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Portland-South Portland pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $121,660 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,570, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $143,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,227/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 29.5% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median air traffic controllers salary is worth about $119,438 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.