Air Traffic Controllers Salary in Illinois

Air Traffic Controllerss in Illinois have a median annual salary of $181,560, which works out to about $87.29 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $117,500 to $209,440, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

53-2021 · Air Traffic Controllers

Air Traffic Controllers pay in Illinois at a glance

Median annual salary

$181,560

Median hourly wage

$87.29/hr

Average annual salary

$164,200

Average hourly wage

$78.94/hr

25th percentile

$117,500

75th percentile

$209,440

10th percentile

$83,990

90th percentile

$225,680

People employed

990

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid air traffic controllers roles in Illinois.

10th percentile
$83,990
25th percentile
$117,500
Median percentile
$181,560
75th percentile
$209,440
90th percentile
$225,680

Illinois vs U.S. salary

The median salary for air traffic controllers roles in Illinois is about 22.6% above the U.S. median of $148,080 for the same occupation.

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How much does a air traffic controllers make in Illinois?

Half of air traffic controllers roles in Illinois report earning more than $181,560 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $164,200 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $117,500 and a quarter are above $209,440, so most air traffic controllers pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect air traffic controllers pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Air Traffic Controllers pay in other states

Related jobs in Illinois

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.