Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in South Carolina is $112,030/year ($53.86/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $120,243 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 17.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $112K get you in South Carolina?
About air traffic controllers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for air traffic controllers in South Carolina runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 18.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for air traffic controllerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $112K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $71K 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 South Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $112K, rent takes 18.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,301/month. At HUD’s $1,263/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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $112K here vs. $148K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
South Carolina pays $112K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $120K — below the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in South Carolina?
The median is $112,030 a year, that works out to about $54 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,680, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $142,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $112K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,805/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 18.6% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $120,243 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.