Air Controller Salary in the United States

How much does an Air Controller make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for an Air Controller in the United States is $87,985 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

However, an Air Controller's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $130,718
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,055 to $110,353
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,283
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
Smart Recruiting
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $75,055 10% $63,283 90% $130,718 75% $110,353 $87,985 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Air Controller Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $110,353 $9,196 $2,122 $53
Average $87,985 $7,332 $1,692 $42
25th Percentile $75,055 $6,255 $1,443 $36
Check out Air Controller Job Openings in the United States
Controller

AscensionPoint Recovery Services - COON RAPIDS, MN

Seasonal Warehouse Worker

United Parcel Service - ROCKFORD, IL

Seasonal Warehouse Worker

United Parcel Service - DEKALB, IL

Air Ramp

United Parcel Service - PAIA, HI

Search More Air Controller Jobs in the United States
Select State
Select City
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Air Controller Salaries

An Air Controller's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Air Controller Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Air Controller's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $81,776
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $82,548
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,556
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $89,568
  • Expert (over 8 years): $93,827
Levels Salary
Entry Level Air Controller$81,776
Intermediate Level Air Controller$82,548
Senior Level Air Controller$84,556
Specialist Level Air Controller$89,568
Expert Level Air Controller$93,827
$81,776 0 yr
$82,548 < 2 yrs
$84,556 2-4 yrs
$89,568 5-8 yrs
$93,827 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Air Controllers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $110,976
  • San Francisco: $109,885
  • Oakland: $107,448

What Skills Can Increase an Air Controller's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Accountability (Mentioned in 33.33% Job Postings): Setting and holding oneself and others to stated expectations by associating tasks with our business's mission, values, and goals.
  • Advertising (Mentioned in 66.67% Job Postings): Advertising is a marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored, non-personal message to promote or sell a product, service or idea.:465 Sponsors of advertising are typically businesses wishing to promote their products or services. Advertising is differentiated from public relations in that an advertiser pays for and has control over the message. It differs from personal selling in that the message is non-personal, i.e., not directed to a particular individual.:661,672 Advertising is communicated through various mass media, including traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, outdoor advertising or direct mail; and new media such as search results, blogs, social media, websites or text messages. The actual presentation of the message in a medium is referred to as an advertisement, or "ad" or advert for short. Commercial ads often seek to generate increased consumption of their products or services through "branding", which associates a product name or image with certain qualities in the minds of consumers. On the other hand, ads that intend to elicit an immediate sale are known as direct-response advertising. Non-commercial entities that advertise more than consumer products or services include political parties, interest groups, religious organizations and governmental agencies. Non-profit organizations may use free modes of persuasion, such as a public service announcement. Advertising may also help to reassure employees or shareholders that a company is viable or successful.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Accountability 33.33%
Advertising 66.67%

Air Controller Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Air Controller's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 18, 2021
$75,055
Average $87,985/year
$110,353
$6,255
Average $7,332/month
$9,196
$1,443
Average $1,692/week
$2,122
$36
Average $42/hour
$53
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $110,353 $9,196 $2,122 $53
Average $87,985 $7,332 $1,692 $42
25th Percentile $75,055 $6,255 $1,443 $36

Salaries of jobs related to Air Controller

Salary Trends for Air Controller

Salaries for an Air Controller can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $65,667 in 2023 to around $65,273 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Air Controller salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Air Controller Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$65,667
2024
$65,528
2025
$65,273
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $65,667
2024 $65,528
2025 $65,273
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Air Controller

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Air Controller

Here are companies hiring for Air Controller and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Air Controller Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Air Controller job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst