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Air traffic controller salary in California

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$160,080median pay per year in California, or $76.96 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $80,960lowest 10% earn less
  2. $115,81025th percentile
  3. $160,080median
  4. $207,67075th percentile
  5. $225,680top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $148,080[3]

The median pay for air traffic controllers in California was $160,080 a year in May 2025[1]. That was higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
2,290[4]
Rank by median pay
8 of 43[5]
Compared with US median
+8.1%[6]

How much do air traffic controllers make in California?

Air traffic controllers in California had a median wage of $160,080 a year, or $76.96 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less. The average was $156,910 a year[7]. The US median was $148,080[3], so California came out $12,000 (8.1%) higher[6]. California had the 8th highest median among the 42 states and DC with a published figure[5].

For all jobs in the state, the median was $58,240 a year[8]. Air traffic controllers earned $101,840 more than that[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $80,960[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $225,680[2]. The middle half earned between $115,810 and $207,670[2].

Among California metro areas with a published median, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom paid the most at $196,290[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $193,360, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had $173,020[11]. OEWS counts people paid a wage or salary. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners. It also leaves out bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for air traffic controllers in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$160,080[1]$148,080[3]
Median per hour$76.96[1]$71.19[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$80,960[2]$78,420[13]
Top 10% earn more than$225,680[2]$215,610[13]
Jobs2,290[4]22,510[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for air traffic controllers, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$173,020690
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$193,360430
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$196,290240
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$94,140140

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for air traffic controllers in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Nevada[14]$140,920210
Arizona$136,800380

Median pay for air traffic controllers in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for air traffic controllers are projected to grow 1.7% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an air traffic controller make in California?
The median was $160,080 a year in May 2025, and the average was $156,910[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $80,960 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $225,680[2].
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour in California?
The median was $76.96 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $38.93 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $108.50[17][2].
Which city in California pays air traffic controllers the most?
Of the 4 metro areas with a published median, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom paid the most at $196,290 a year[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont followed in the list at $193,360[11].
Is California a good state for air traffic controllers?
California had the 8th highest median wage for this job among 42 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $160,080 was 8.1% above the US median[1][6].
What do you need to become an air traffic controller in California?
Across the US, the typical entry education is an associate's degree, with no related work experience and long-term on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not a California one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in California was $160,080 per year and $76.96 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Air Traffic Controllers in California: 10th percentile $80,960, 25th percentile $115,810, 75th percentile $207,670, 90th percentile $225,680. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in the US as a whole was $148,080 per year and $71.19 per hour, with about 22,510 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,290 people worked as Air Traffic Controllers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 8th highest median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers out of the 42 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers in California ($160,080) was $12,000 (8.1%) higher than the US median ($148,080). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Air Traffic Controllers in California was $156,910 per year and $75.44 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers in California was $101,840 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 4 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Air Traffic Controllers, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA had the highest median annual wage, $196,290. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Air Traffic Controllers in the US: 10th percentile $78,420, 25th percentile $104,520, 75th percentile $190,570, 90th percentile $215,610. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers in states that border California (highest first): Nevada $140,920; Arizona $136,800. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Air Traffic Controllers is projected to grow 1.7% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,100 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Air Traffic Controllers: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Air Traffic Controllers in California: 10th percentile $38.93, 25th percentile $55.68, 75th percentile $99.84, 90th percentile $108.50. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.