Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Tennessee is $157,330/year ($75.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $98K at the entry level to $199K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $175,239 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 12% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
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What $157K actually covers in Tennessee, month by month
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Air traffic controllers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $157K locally vs. $148K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 12.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $157K. Top earners bring in $199K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $156K | -1% | 60 |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $157K, rent takes 12.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $98K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,462/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 19% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is air traffic controller a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $157K locally vs. $148K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Tennessee pays $157K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $175K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Tennessee?
The median is $157,330 a year, that works out to about $76 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $98,300, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $198,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $157K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,857/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 12.3% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $175,239 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.