Air Traffic Controllers Salary
The median pay for a air traffic controllers in Virginia is $191,820/year ($92.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $94K at the entry level to $226K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $202,363 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 14.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $192K get you in Virginia?
About air traffic controllers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for air traffic controllers, local pay runs about 30% higher than the U.S. median of $148K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 14.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Virginia offers a genuinely strong financial position for air traffic controllerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level air traffic controllers (10th percentile) start around $94K. Mid-career wages sit at $192K. Top earners bring in $226K or more, a $131K spread from bottom to top.
Air Traffic Controllers salary by metro in Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $119K | -38% | 90 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a air traffic controller afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $192K, rent takes 14.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for air traffic controllers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new air traffic controllers typically earn — is $94K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,660/month. At HUD’s $1,646/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 Virginia?
Local pay is 30% above the national median — $192K here vs. $148K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for air traffic controllers?
Virginia pays $192K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s +30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $202K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do air traffic controllers make in Virginia?
The median is $191,820 a year, that works out to about $92 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $94,330, and experienced air traffic controllers can clear $225,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $192K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,027/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 14.9% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $202,363 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.