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Air traffic controller salary in New York

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$144,960median pay per year in New York, or $69.69 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $74,320lowest 10% earn less
  2. $106,20025th percentile
  3. $144,960median
  4. $216,57075th 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 New York was $144,960 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $3,120 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NY
1,150[4]
Rank by median pay
16 of 43[5]
Compared with US median
−2.1%[6]

How much do air traffic controllers make in New York?

Half of the air traffic controllers in New York earned more than $144,960 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $69.69 an hour at the median[1]. The average was higher, at $154,660 a year[7]. About 1,150 people held these jobs in the state[4].

Across the US, the median for air traffic controllers was $148,080 a year, so New York sat $3,120 (2.1%) below it[3][6]. For all jobs in New York, the median was $59,670 a year, which puts air traffic controllers $85,290 above that[8][9]. New York had the 16th highest median for this job among the 42 states and DC with a published figure[5].

The lowest-paid 10% of air traffic controllers in New York earned less than $74,320, while the highest-paid 10% earned more than $225,680[2]. The 25th percentile was $106,200 and the 75th was $216,570[2]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits like health insurance[10].

New York vs US pay

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

NYUS
Median per year$144,960[1]$148,080[3]
Median per hour$69.69[1]$71.19[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$74,320[2]$78,420[11]
Top 10% earn more than$225,680[2]$215,610[11]
Jobs1,150[4]22,510[3]

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for air traffic controllers in the states that border New York, highest first[12].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Connecticut[12]$140,940n/a
Pennsylvania$132,350460
New Jersey$132,230190
Massachusetts$125,060120
Vermont$109,14030

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[13]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[14].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an air traffic controller make in New York?
The median was $144,960 a year in May 2025, and the average was $154,660[1][7]. The US median was $148,080[3].
How much does an air traffic controller make an hour in New York?
The median was $69.69 an hour and the average was $74.36 an hour[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $35.73 an hour and the 90th was $108.50[15].
Is New York a good state for air traffic controllers?
New York had the 16th highest median for this job out of 42 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was 2.1% below the US median[6]. Connecticut was the highest of the bordering states at $140,940[12].
What does a percentile wage mean for air traffic controllers?
A percentile is a cutoff point in the pay range. For example, 10% of workers earned less than the 10th percentile figure of $74,320 in New York[2]. BLS does not publish a starting salary[16].
What do you need to become an air traffic controller in New York?
This is a US figure, not a New York one. Across the US, the typical path starts with an associate's degree, no work experience in a related job, and long-term on-the-job training[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in New York was $144,960 per year and $69.69 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 New York: 10th percentile $74,320, 25th percentile $106,200, 75th percentile $216,570, 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 1,150 people worked as Air Traffic Controllers in New York (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: New York had the 16th 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 New York ($144,960) was $3,120 (2.1%) 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 New York was $154,660 per year and $74.36 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in New York was $59,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers in New York was $85,290 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($59,670). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers in states that border New York (highest first): Connecticut $140,940; Pennsylvania $132,350; New Jersey $132,230; Massachusetts $125,060; Vermont $109,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Air Traffic Controllers in New York: 10th percentile $35.73, 25th percentile $51.06, 75th percentile $104.12, 90th percentile $108.50. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only New York. 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.