How much does an Air Traffic Controller (Tower Option) make in the United States?
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The average Air Traffic Controller (Tower Option) salary in the United States is $164,284 as of March 01, 2025. The range for our most popular Air Traffic Controller (Tower Option) positions (listed below) typically falls between $141,515 and $187,052. Keep in mind that salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including position, education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Air Traffic Controller (Tower Option)'s Annual Base Salary
Job Title | Salary | Hourly Rate | Location | Date Updated |
Air Traffic Controller | $65,218 | $31.35 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
Air Traffic Controller Trainee | $64,013 | $30.78 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
Air Traffic Controller Supervisor | $62,940 | $30.26 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
Air Traffic Controller (15Q) | $66,555 | $32.00 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
Air Traffic Controller Specialist | $67,280 | $32.35 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
Air Controller | $97,570 | $46.91 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
Traffic Controller | $51,537 | $24.78 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
Air Traffic Manager | $162,852 | $78.29 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
Air Traffic Coordinator | $57,766 | $27.77 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
Air Traffic Assistant | $48,945 | $23.53 | United States | March 01, 2025 |
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Air traffic controllers often abbreviated ATC are personnel responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. Usually stationed in air traffic control centers and control towers on the ground, they monitor the position, speed, and altitude of aircraft in their assigned airspace visually and by radar, and give directions to the pilots by radio. The position of air traffic controller is one that requires highly specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. Controllers apply separation rules to keep aircraft at a safe distance from each other in their area of responsibility and move all aircraft safely and efficiently through their assigned sector of airspace, as well as on the ground. Because controllers have an incredibly large responsibility while on duty (often in aviation, "on position") and make countless real-time decisions on a daily basis, the ATC profession is consistently regarded around the world as one of the most mentally challenging careers, and can be notoriously stressful depending on many variables (equipment, configurations, weather, traffic volume, traffic type, special activities, governmental actions, human factors). Many controllers, however, would cite high salaries, and a very large, unique, and privileged degree of autonomy as major advantages of their jobs. View Air Traffic Controller Salary