Air Traffic Controllers Salary in Washington

Air Traffic Controllerss in Washington have a median annual salary of $162,570, which works out to about $78.16 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $112,150 to $191,030, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

53-2021 · Air Traffic Controllers

Air Traffic Controllers pay in Washington at a glance

Median annual salary

$162,570

Median hourly wage

$78.16/hr

Average annual salary

$154,320

Average hourly wage

$74.19/hr

25th percentile

$112,150

75th percentile

$191,030

10th percentile

$91,600

90th percentile

$209,270

People employed

620

Salary distribution

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

10th percentile
$91,600
25th percentile
$112,150
Median percentile
$162,570
75th percentile
$191,030
90th percentile
$209,270

Washington vs U.S. salary

The median salary for air traffic controllers roles in Washington is about 9.8% 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 Washington?

Half of air traffic controllers roles in Washington report earning more than $162,570 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $154,320 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 $112,150 and a quarter are above $191,030, 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 Washington

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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.