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Air traffic controller salary in Florida

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$147,530median pay per year in Florida, or $70.93 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $86,660lowest 10% earn less
  2. $107,99025th percentile
  3. $147,530median
  4. $178,42075th percentile
  5. $195,960top 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 Florida was $147,530 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $550 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in FL
1,950[4]
Rank by median pay
15 of 43[5]
Compared with US median
−0.4%[6]

How much do air traffic controllers make in Florida?

Air traffic controllers in Florida had a median wage of $147,530 a year, or $70.93 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less. The average was $144,140 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $148,080[3], so Florida sat $550 (0.4%) lower[6]. The median for all jobs in Florida was $47,880[8]. Air traffic controllers earned $99,650 more than that[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $86,660, and the 25th percentile was $107,990[2]. At the top, the 75th percentile was $178,420, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $195,960[2]. About 1,950 people held these jobs in the state[4].

Among Florida metro areas with a published median, Jacksonville had the highest, at $170,120 a year[10]. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach followed in the list at $162,140[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

Florida vs US pay

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

FLUS
Median per year$147,530[1]$148,080[3]
Median per hour$70.93[1]$71.19[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$86,660[2]$78,420[13]
Top 10% earn more than$195,960[2]$215,610[13]
Jobs1,950[4]22,510[3]

Pay by metro area in Florida

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

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL[11]$162,140720
Jacksonville, FL$170,120450
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$147,800170
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL$142,880110
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL$150,700110

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Georgia[14]$178,420970
Alabama$114,960240

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 Florida?
The median was $147,530 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $144,140[7].
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour in Florida?
The median hourly wage was $70.93[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41.66 an hour[2][17], and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $94.21[17].
Which city in Florida pays air traffic controllers the most?
Jacksonville had the highest median among the 5 Florida metro areas with a published figure, at $170,120 a year[10].
Is Florida a good state for air traffic controllers?
Florida had the 15th highest median annual wage for this job out of 42 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $550 lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become an air traffic controller in Florida?
These are US figures, not Florida ones. 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].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in Florida was $147,530 per year and $70.93 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 Florida: 10th percentile $86,660, 25th percentile $107,990, 75th percentile $178,420, 90th percentile $195,960. 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 1,950 people worked as Air Traffic Controllers in Florida (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Florida had the 15th 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 Florida ($147,530) was $550 (0.4%) lower than the US median ($148,080). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Air Traffic Controllers in Florida was $144,140 per year and $69.30 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Florida was $47,880. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers in Florida was $99,650 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 5 metro areas in or partly in Florida with a published median for Air Traffic Controllers, Jacksonville, FL had the highest median annual wage, $170,120. 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 Florida (highest first): Georgia $178,420; Alabama $114,960. 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 Florida: 10th percentile $41.66, 25th percentile $51.92, 75th percentile $85.78, 90th percentile $94.21. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Florida. 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.